Full Show Podcast: 27 December 2025

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk, ZEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Champion and nine time world champion over one hundred meters Shelley,
Anne Fraser Price. I'm Jason Pineeshaw produce a tyre Ward today.
We're here talking sport until three plenty of cricket for
you today. The Blackap squads have been named for next
month's ODII and T twenty tours of India. Kyle Jamison's
and both squads, he's standing by for a chat and

(00:33):
maybe a hint on when he might play Test cricket
for us again. One of the new faces in the
ODIEI squad is Jaden Lennox, who also captain's CD and
white ball cricket. He's along this hour for a chat
as well, and about obviously his Black Caps selection, as
well as CD's defense of their men's T twenty title,
which gets underway this afternoon and day two of the

(00:57):
Boxing day Ashes Test. After an utterly bonker's first day
twenty wickets falling on the first day, Australia going to
resume at four without lasts and their second innings in
around twenty minutes from now. It's a lead of forty
six Ossie correspondent Adam Peacock is with us live from
the mcg and Award winning author Tim Wigmore has written
the first narrative history of Test cricket. It's called Test

(01:20):
Cricket a History and details the players and stories that
have shaped the game's evolution since eighteen seventy seven. He'll
tell us more about that when he joins us after
two other matters around today. The New Zealand Breakers will
honor one of their all time greats. In the next
month or so they'll retire the iconic number ten singlet
of four time champion Tom Abercrombie. He's with us after one,

(01:42):
as does Auckland FC striker Sam Costgrove. He's enjoying life
in the A League. Four goals this season. Auckland FC
top of the table. They would have been playing tonight
in Sydney, but a substandard purchase put paid to that,
but Sam Cosgrove pops him for a chat. Royal Wellington
Golf Club is going to host the eighth edition of
the Women's Amateur Asia Pacific Championship in February next year,

(02:03):
bringing together the region's best young amateur war Women's golfers.
Nine key is in the field, including in Sir Choi,
who's currently fifty fourth in the world amateur rankings. She's
along for a chat Ben Francis on the darts as
we enter the post Christmas business end of the World
Champs and we go stateside for a dive into American
sport with our US sports expertly on Buzzby Live Sport.

(02:26):
While we're on the air today, we'll keep an eye,
of course on that Ashes test when Day two gets
underway at around twelve thirty and domestic Super Smash action
from fitz Herbert Park in Palmerston, North Central against Wellington
Women's game first to twelve forty the men's game to follow.
Lines are open all afternoon. You can get in touch
if you'd like to on oh eight hundred and eighty

(02:47):
ten eighty send you text messages to nine two nine
two or your emails into Jason at newstalksheb dot co
dot Nz. Just gone ten past midday weekends for it
on news talkshab are relatively inexperienced. Fifteen man squad has
been named for the Black Aps one day Cricket Sea
in India next month. Uncapped left arm spinner Jaden Lennox

(03:10):
and all round a Christian Clark are joined by emerging
internationals at Ashoch, Mitch Hay, Josh Clarkson, Nick Kelly and
recent Test debutante Michael Ray. Michael Bracewell is going to
captain the fifty over side, with white ball skipper Mitch
Santner only named for the five match T twenty series
which follows, and seven others will join the team for

(03:33):
that series Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy Rutch and Ravindram, Jimmyisham,
Tim Robinson, Ish Sody and Young Auckland. Batter Bevan Jacobs,
Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, Fin Allen and Tim Seiford will
also join the squad when their franchise commitments are complete,
allowing them to possibly feature ahead of the T twenty
World Cup in February. Pace bowler Kyle Jamison is included

(03:57):
in both ODI and T twenty squads.

Speaker 3 (04:00):
Hodgers Finger gotta und the batters walking, and once again
it's Jamison or.

Speaker 4 (04:05):
In the middle.

Speaker 2 (04:05):
Awers thank ye simple simple.

Speaker 4 (04:10):
The change of angle for the.

Speaker 5 (04:12):
First time from Carl Jamison forces Campbell to flee and
a simple catch to slip.

Speaker 2 (04:18):
Carl Jamison is with us. We just heard some audio
there from the ODI series against the West Indies last
last month. Kyle, you were player of the series and
that's seven wickets an average of twenty across the three matches.
You've played eight t twenty matches across the home series
against Australia, England and the West Indies. So quite a
decent white ball workload for you in the last few months.

(04:40):
How did you come through all of that cricket?

Speaker 6 (04:43):
Yeah, it was really good.

Speaker 5 (04:44):
It was obviously nice to have a nice you have
a big block of cricket and you know, sort of
big big block of white ball cricket leading into what's
to come. So you felt like so I got kind
of better as it went on and sort of took
me a little bit to get up and running.

Speaker 6 (04:59):
And ye last bit blocker cricket.

Speaker 2 (05:02):
As I said, of course, we didn't see you much
in twenty twenty four. You had that stress frack, but
a surgery and then a lengthy recovery. How tough was
last year for you?

Speaker 6 (05:13):
Uh? Yeah, last year was tough.

Speaker 5 (05:15):
I think I think the previous years were I don't
know where I was a little bit naive or you know,
or maybe slightly oblivis to to the process.

Speaker 6 (05:24):
I think last year was certainly the toughest by a
long way.

Speaker 5 (05:27):
I think I had a greater understanding of kind of
what was in front of me, and I kind of
went on a bit a bit of a different journey
than what I've been on.

Speaker 6 (05:34):
So it was certainly, certainly reasonably challenging.

Speaker 5 (05:38):
But at the same time, I felt like I had
had a great opportunity actually come back, come back better
this time around, which I probably didn't have in the past.
So I felt like it really kind of set me
up for set me up at the back end of
my career.

Speaker 2 (05:50):
Is there what kept you going? The fact that you
knew that if you took the right steps that things
you know would turn out okay.

Speaker 5 (05:58):
Yeah, Well, I mean I was kind of staring down
the barrel of doing the same thing and kind of
expecting different results, which you know, most people would say
it is probably not the smartest, smartest path forward, but
I was kind of given a given a different route
and one that I guess really excited me, and one
that sort of I just opened my eyes to all
the things that I'd been missing in the past, and
I felt like if I kind of wacked the fight

(06:20):
and fixed all these things that were sitting there and
basically leading my back to not hold up, it was
I was gonna be in pretty good stead. So I
cidently believed in the in the past, and that's what
I guess made it made it a little bit easier
to kind of commit to it, and you know, over
a reasonably long stretch of time, but you know, to
keep to keep doing the work to come back and

(06:41):
play crede again.

Speaker 2 (06:42):
So what were the things that you were doing that
that you know that was so different from the way
you'd rehabbed in the past.

Speaker 6 (06:50):
Uh, well, I suppose it wasn't so much.

Speaker 5 (06:53):
Different sort of stuff, But like I just I just
missed the missed the whole bunch of stuff around how
my body works, Like it was the way it moved,
where my mobility was, where my strength was, how my
I guess my legs through my glutes and core and
through my shoulder and all that sort of stuff all
worked just just wasn't there. Like I was basically finding

(07:16):
a whole heap of ways to compensate to get the
ball down the other end, which you know, if you
don't have all the all the shock absorbers and everything
sort of working in alignment.

Speaker 6 (07:28):
Your back just takes the brunt of it.

Speaker 5 (07:29):
So I'd kind of just been resting and then just
going again and hoping for a different sort of outcome,
Whereas this time it was like, no, one need to
rebuild your body from scratch. We need to get certain
parts of your body moving, we need to activate things,
We need to you know, learn how to use your
body in a way that actually supports it rather than
rather than hinders it.

Speaker 2 (07:48):
So interesting, So who gave you all this advice? Who
was the mastermind behind all of this?

Speaker 5 (07:54):
I sort of outsourced outsourced the rehab in a way,
So I went through.

Speaker 6 (07:59):
Team and Or and Chelsea.

Speaker 5 (08:01):
Lane and Matt Dello, so they didn't a fair bit
of work with athletes around the world and you know,
hugely experienced and kind of just just through an initial
chat really kind of like sort of sparked it for me.
I thought there was so much more to gain from
from this path and stuff that just made a whole

(08:21):
heap of sense. I kind of had a bit of
a bit of a gut feel when I'd done it
that I was like, I just don't feel like this
is just a me problem. I felt like there was
there were things that I was missing that was leading
to this and they basically shone a light on it.
So yeah, I was able to kind of basically spend
all the last year going up and back between Auckland
and christ Church to see them and to do the

(08:42):
work with them.

Speaker 6 (08:43):
And they're still and they're still part of our team today.

Speaker 2 (08:45):
So good man, it's great to have you back. You
came back into white ball cricket last summer, played a
lot actually over the last year, Super Smash International Cricket,
franchise cricket in Pakistan, then the IPL with Punjab is
a replacement for Lockie Ferguson and the IPL Final. What
was that like?

Speaker 6 (09:00):
And it was so cool.

Speaker 5 (09:01):
It was like it was such a whirl and I
kind of like planned in it first half of the year
it was going to be a little bit of mess
at cricket and you know, it was going to be
a you know, I guess a bit of a slow
build through through twenty twenty five and as you said,
kind of ended up Champions Trophy, ended up in Pakistan
and then the IPR Final and it was you know,
I kind of through that rehab process was it was

(09:22):
somewhere I wanted to get back to, as the IPL
was sort of an arena ra you know, I wasn't
sure whether I was going to end up back there,
you know, at some point in time, and you know,
to play to play basically. I plain think I played
the last four games and it was like all high
pressure games, all sort of knockout sort of style cricket,
and it was just it was just incredible. I just
absolutely loved it and just probably bought a fresh perspective

(09:42):
to that arena than probably what I had in the
past being over there in years. Yeah, it would be
nice to get over the line, but yeah, very much
could be a part of Yeah.

Speaker 2 (09:52):
Absolutely. We had that season in twenty twenty one with
Royal Challenges Bangalore picked up by the Delhi Capitals for
twenty twenty six. I think Mitchell Stark's in that team,
isn't it how much you're looking forward to a full
season back in the IPL next year?

Speaker 5 (10:05):
Yeah, Yeah, like you said, just I guess it's probably
building on this year in terms of going for that
last little bit, but to go for a full season
and those areundas that are just so cool because you're
constantly playing against the best guys and you've got the
best guys in your team and as you said, Mitchell
Starks there and he's you know, one of one of
the best fast balls in the world and has been
for a long time. To go into those environments and

(10:26):
just pick guys brains and learn and be challenged, as
you know, something that I think every cricket is probably
looking for. And you're certainly lucky enough to be picked
up this year and to be heading.

Speaker 2 (10:36):
Back earlier this month. You played a planket shield match
for Canterbury against ce Are your first game of red
ball cricket I can see since your last test in
February twenty twenty four. So was that twenty two months
between red ball games. You bowled twenty nine and a
bit overs across the two innings. How did you come through?

Speaker 6 (10:54):
Yeah?

Speaker 5 (10:54):
Fine, Yeah, like I was, I didn't probably expect to
be to pull up any other different way, I suppose,
but you know it was good.

Speaker 6 (11:03):
I was.

Speaker 5 (11:03):
I was sort of all ready to go for that
red bull stuff and just felt like it was the
right right sort of piece to add into the calendar.

Speaker 6 (11:11):
And yeah, I really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed.

Speaker 5 (11:14):
I guess the you know, the challenge I was Graham,
I guess, backing up spells and just to I guess,
build some consistencies, sort of go through white bull cricket
at times by different balls every every.

Speaker 6 (11:25):
Time you're running.

Speaker 5 (11:26):
And it was nice just to I guess, get back
to the simplicity of red bull cricket. And and you
had to have a bit of a bit of a
hit out with the Canary boys.

Speaker 2 (11:34):
So with so many of our seam bowlers unavailable during
that West and These Test series, they were dropping like flies.
Was there ever a conversation about you playing a part
in that Western these Test series?

Speaker 5 (11:47):
You know, I mean we've spoken about it before the
Test series started, so not really.

Speaker 6 (11:51):
I guess injury related to you know, for the other guys.

Speaker 5 (11:55):
But you're we had a conversation at the start and
you know, went back and forth a few times on
what we thought the right option was and and I
guess ultimately we landed and you know, in the place
that we did. So it's obviously a shame to shame
to see those guys go down, and but yeah, it
was kind of I guess once we'd once we kind
of decided on what the plan was pre series, it

(12:18):
was that's the right thing and just trying to respect
that regardless of I guess what happened throughout that series.

Speaker 2 (12:25):
And presumably that is part of a of a return
to red ball plan. I mean we look at the
next year to fourteen months England, India, Australia in test matches.
How driven are you Cole to return to the test arena.

Speaker 5 (12:41):
Yeah, I certainly feel like it's a place I want
to get back to. I think it's, you know, from
from where I've come from, physically, like it's the hardest,
it's the hardest place to get back to. So it
feels like from a physical standpoint that I guess that
return to play it's it's a little bit like the
mountaintop and trying to trying to conquer that. I felt
like I was in a pretty good place leading into
leading into December and ultimately went like a different different direction.

(13:05):
But yeah, it certainly, you know, it's obviously like you
said that, there's a huge amount of reborn on the
horizon and and sort of once you get going and
sort of June, it's sort of non stop for I
think boarding tests maybe, So, yeah, it's obviously an I
want to get back to and we'll just have to
I guess kind of see how that plays out through
the middle and back end of next year.

Speaker 2 (13:26):
Is there a scenario under which you might just end
up focusing on white ball cricket.

Speaker 6 (13:33):
I mean, I hope not.

Speaker 5 (13:35):
I certainly still want to play all forms of the game,
and I don't feel like if that decision.

Speaker 6 (13:40):
Was made, it wouldn't because of my body. I think
it would.

Speaker 5 (13:43):
Yeah, I mean that's the conversation you've got to have
with a few other people. I mean, if it's solely
down to me, I would say, no, that's not a
situation that I think will unfold. But you know, when
teams are selected and squads and passer kind of I
guess laid out, that's it's not just my not just
my call. So yeah, look, I guess from my end,

(14:06):
I feel like I'm in a pretty good place and
I'm I'm sort of ready for that, for that next challenge,
and I'll continue to work towards it, and then I
guess we'll just see where see where things go from
I guess the other key decision makers.

Speaker 2 (14:18):
Yeah, indeed. Well, I'm sure most New Zealand cricket fans
will hope that the nineteen tests you've had won't be it.
Did you catch any of the Boxing Day tests yesterday?
I mean a year from now that will be you guys.

Speaker 5 (14:29):
Yeah, yeah, I've sort of followed quite a bit of
the yeshes obviously a little bit of eye on potentially
wants to come and it was absolute contag Yes, the
wouldn't it I certainly, you know, I hope they hope
they don't go the other way next year. It'll be
nice to have that sort of wicket on Day one
for US bowlers, but certainly if it going on, it
was nice.

Speaker 2 (14:47):
Absolutely right A right, So you're off, surely how many
Super Smash games will you get in before you head
away with New Zealand.

Speaker 5 (14:53):
I think I get two and so I think we
got the one in Alexandra tomorrow and then one on
Newyear's Day at Hagley and then you flyer on the
fourth of January, so you'll get a couple in. So
obviously not the full campaign, but it'd be good, good
to get a couple one with the boys before we
head off.

Speaker 2 (15:10):
Exciting times ahead over the next year to fifteen eighteen
months or so.

Speaker 7 (15:13):
Cole.

Speaker 2 (15:13):
Great to have you back playing mates so regularly. Thanks
for joining us this afteren and really appreciate the chat.

Speaker 6 (15:19):
Thanks for having me no, thanks for.

Speaker 2 (15:20):
Joining us, Kyle Coyle Jamison there. It all sounds like
good news, doesn't it.

Speaker 5 (15:23):
Jee.

Speaker 2 (15:23):
He's been so unlucky with injury. You remember when he
he had played quite a bit of first class cricket,
hadn't he. I think he's been around the scene since
about twenty fourteen to fifteen, and then burst onto the
Test scene at the back end of the twenty nineteen
twenty twenty summer when India were here, got what nine
wickets in his first couple of Test matches and batted
quite well too, and then from there sort of joined

(15:46):
with the likes of Saudi, Wagner Bolt and was a
massive part of that run to the World Test Championship win.
We got picked up eleven wickets in a Test match
in christ Church against Pakistan in early January twenty twenty one,
and it felt like this is a guy who's going
to bowl for US and Test matches forever, get two

(16:08):
or three hundred wickets. But then the injuries just started
to happen, didn't they. And you know, and when fast
bowlers in particular start having back in Jurisia, you really
start to worry, you know. You you think, okay, is
he going to fulfill his potential? Is it going to
be like a shame Bond situation. Shane Bond was amazing

(16:29):
for us, but didn't play anywhere near the Test matches
we thought he would. Cole Jamison's played nineteen Test matches.
He's got eighty wickets at an average of nineteen point
seventy three. As I understand it, the only current bowler
with a better Test average having got a decent body
of work in terms of wickets is Scott Boland out
of Australia. He averages about eighteen. He's incredible, that guy's

(16:52):
They love him in Victoria opening batsman now too, by
the way, but Cole Jamison's numbers in red ball cricket
are terrific. Five five wicket bags and that tenth that
I just mentioned last time he played Test cricket feed
Jury twenty twenty four. So it's going to be well
over two years between Test matches for Cole Jamison. Let's

(17:13):
just keep our fingers crossed, and hope that he's okay
for the England tour first of all midnext year, then
India at home and then that mouth watering Australian series.
I mean, who isn't watching the Ashes at the moment
thinking that's going to be us next year, That is
going to be us at the Boxing Day Test a
year from now. As Carl said, I don't know, he

(17:33):
hopes it's going to be as friendly for the bowlers.
I'm not sure we want twenty wickets on day one
of every Test match necessarily, but certainly high drama. But
great to have Cole Jamison, you know, at least. And
the most encouraging part of that chat was the way
he talked about the difference in his rehab and his
recovery and just the different things that he has examined

(17:55):
as he got himself back during twenty twenty four. You
just knock on ward, don't you, And just hope that
his injury problems are behind him and he is a
major in white and red ball cricket for many summers
to come. How ol would Cole Jamison be thirty? I
think he's about to turn thirty one, turns thirty one
in a couple of days actually, so that's still if

(18:18):
you use Wagner, Southy and Bolt as your guides, another
three or four years hopefully off top level cricket, and
let's hope a bit of that is with a red
ball in his hand. They're about to head back out
onto the MCG. Incidentally, on day two of the Boxing
Day Test. This Test is already very well advanced as

(18:41):
we know. Yesterday was just absolutely crazy. Australia bowled out
for one hundred and fifty two, England all out one
hundred and ten. Australia had to go out and face
one over at the end of day one. Scott Boland
went out as a night watchman and saw out the over.
Travis Head was there with him. So they'll resume very
shortly Australia for without loss. That's the lead of forty six.

(19:03):
Who only I mean, who couldn't guess what might happen
on day two in this Boxing Day Test. We're going
to take a break, come back and talk to one
of the debutants in the ODI squad to play India
next month, Jaden Lenox Off, spinning all rounder for Central
and their captain as well. We'll talk a bit about
his Black Caps inclusion for the first time and the

(19:23):
defense of the Super Smash Trophy they won it last year.
They play Wellington this afternoon, the first game of their
defense of that. Jaden Lenox gonna join us in just
a moment. Twelve twenty seven Here on News TALKSB.

Speaker 1 (19:35):
It's more than just a game Weekend Sport with Jason
Fain and GJ. Garnomes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder,
News Talks HEB.

Speaker 2 (19:45):
News Talks HEB. Paul says, get a piny mirror Christmas.
I hope our bowling attack next year in the boxing
day test at the g is Jamison, O'Rourke, Sears and
a Jazz as our spinner. Fingers crossed, our quicks can
get themselves fit. I'd have Matt Henry in there as well, Paul,
I think you probably would too. Look I who're going
to have?

Speaker 7 (20:01):
You know?

Speaker 2 (20:01):
You look at the at the fast bowlers that we've
got coming through at the moment, our steam bowlers like you.
Put Henry in there, right, I think, Oh, Rourke, if
we can get him fit, he's another one's knee. You
just keep your fingers crossed, Jamerson, if he continues along
this trajectory, and I think Jacob Duffy in the West
Indies series we've just had albeit a you know they're

(20:22):
a step down, aren't they from Australia. But I think
Jacob Duffy proved that he is also a red ball
prospect a Jazz as our spinner. Look, yeah, well we
have to take a spinner, don't we. Whether it's Mitchell
Santna so that you have that batting as well, I
guess we won't see, but Paul that yeah, the fingers crossed.
But I totally agree with mate. Let's keep our fingers

(20:43):
crossed that everybody is fit because that could be quite
the series next year, quite the series. I think the
Boxing Day Test is the third one. Again, two tests
before that Boxing Day Test and there one in early January.
I think that's the way it goes, looking forward to it. Anyway,
they're back out there incidentally on day two of the
Boxing Day Test of this year and it is Travis

(21:04):
Head and Scott Bowland out. Scott Bolden I'm sure could
never have imagined that he'd be walking out to bat
to open the batting, that is in a Boxing Day Test.
But here we are here we are just a quick
quick check on Palmerston North and the Wellington Blaze have
won the toss and elected to bat first against the
Central Hins. Wellington Blaze are the defending women's champions in

(21:27):
our T twenty Super Smash. They're going to bat first
against the Central Hins, but of a false start unfortunately
in Hamilton yesterday when the Super Smash was supposed to
get under way, the Auckland Aces made two one for
eight against the Brave on their visit to Sedon Park.
Rain then set in and the match was abandoned. Bevan
Jacobs top scored with fifty five off thirty one ball
season that Black CAP's T twenty squad, which tour is

(21:48):
India next month, and the women's game only a couple
of overs possible. Auckland got to eight for one before
that match was also abandoned. Defending men's champion Central Districts
open their campaign against Wellington and Parmy a bit later
on today. Four to twenty five first born that one
and Central led this summer well some of it anyway
by Jayden Lennox. Yeah, oh that's brilliant. That is really

(22:13):
good from Jaden Lenox and that's got to be close that.

Speaker 3 (22:16):
Yeah, everything's coming up.

Speaker 2 (22:20):
Roses for Jaden Lenox Jaden Lennox as well, So thanks
for joining us mate. Before we get onto the Super Smash,
you were named, of course, in the Black Cap squad
for three od i's in India next month earlier this week.
Congratulations on that, mate. How much are you looking forward
to being part of the Black Cap set up for
the first time.

Speaker 8 (22:36):
Oh?

Speaker 9 (22:37):
Yeah, I'm mentally excited at It's one of those things
that is I suppose that's a pinnacle of sporting New Zealander,
is representing your country. So to get the call from
from Gav a couple of days ago and be told
that I'd be on the trip to India was bloody exciting.
But your first and foremost just getting getting stuck back
into some some T twenty cricket at home before the

(23:01):
trip is always good as well, and I'm sure it'll
be bloody good prep.

Speaker 2 (23:04):
I guess it means you'll miss a chunk of the
Super Smash. The timing is not exactly impeccable, is it.
You'll be away from what the middle part of the
Super Smash?

Speaker 9 (23:12):
Yeah, I think might miss out on the middle maybe
four or five games and then come back and hopefully
get a little run into the finals, which would be
an ideal outcome.

Speaker 2 (23:23):
Was some the black cap something you've been targeting.

Speaker 9 (23:28):
Yeah, in all honestly that it's kind of been that's
been the goal for a long time now. So yeah,
it feels like the stars have kind of aligned, especially
this year. There's been a lot of things gone on
on and off the park would have sort of added
up to having a really really cool year and some
of those experiences, so this is kind of the icing
on the cake to get that call.

Speaker 2 (23:49):
And beyond this trip, what are some of those things
that have that have gone well for you on and
off the field, Well.

Speaker 9 (23:57):
The birth of our first child in July's probably top
of the cake for me, to be honest. And then yeah,
three overseas trip to sort of learn about my game
and what that looks like in foreign conditions. So we
had an age trip to bangdaleship started the winter, and
then the Stags managed to get an invite to the

(24:17):
Global Super League in Guyana midwinter for a couple of
weeks and play a few franchise twenty twenty teams. So
that was that was really cool as well, and got
some valuable experience there and then finished off the winter
with a trip to South Africa with the Nzday. So yeah,
it's been a huge winter of learning and yeah, on
and off the park, so yeah, it's been yeah, a

(24:38):
really really cool.

Speaker 2 (24:39):
Winter, tremendous and the summer too. You've you've been named
captain obviously of the Stag's for Trophy side and now
the Super Smash side as well. Tom Bruce is away
playing franchise cricket, is.

Speaker 9 (24:51):
He Yeah, yeah, he's away, so that's kind of that's
opened the door for some some more leadership opportunities for me,
and yeah, doing the Forard Trophy last year and then
the front half of this year has been really cool.
Having guys like Tom and Dane and Ticks around has
made a pretty seamless transition. And then yeah, obviously really

(25:11):
cool to get the get my hands on the twenty
twenty leadership as well, So yeah, really exciting. I suppose
last couple of years in that development space for me.

Speaker 2 (25:20):
Have you developed a leadership or captaincy style in white
ball cricket.

Speaker 9 (25:27):
Well, I probably couldn't put my finger on it, but
I suppose I just kind of I like having having
as much trust as I can in the players and
having pretty good communication streams, and just keeping things as
relaxed as I can, because I don't think many people
can perform if you're putting pressure on them as well
as the game situation. So for me, the big thing
is just being clear and calm. They're kind of my

(25:51):
two pinnacle. I suppose philosophies that I try and try
and instill, and I suppose a bowling unit.

Speaker 10 (25:57):
And then.

Speaker 9 (25:59):
Probably my big one outside of the actual game is
trying to put ourselves under pressure at training so we
when we get into proof PreCure situations where more adeptive performing.
So yeah, it's kind of not not really a big philosophy,
but just a few things I try and live by.

Speaker 2 (26:14):
And that calmness and that composure is that sometimes challenging
in the in the I know you're just starting the
T twenty stuff, but do you foresee it being challenging
in a game like T twenty where things can change
in the space of four or five deliveries, you know,
and fluidity is required at all times.

Speaker 9 (26:33):
Yeah, to be honest, the game changes so quickly that
you have to have that fluidity and being able to
read the game is probably one of those big things
that you have to have as a captain in the
shorter in the shorter formats, especially because as you say,
it happens it turns on a hudden and respace of
a couple of balls. So having having the fluidity to
change plans mid over and decide when something's not working

(26:54):
or decide when something needs to change is kind of
that's the essence of twenty twenty kit and see. So yeah,
looking forward to to putting my own little spin on
what that looks like in our environment.

Speaker 2 (27:05):
I'm always cute curious about captains who bowl. How do
you know when to bowl yourself.

Speaker 9 (27:10):
When it's easier.

Speaker 2 (27:13):
You're the captain now just the easy overson?

Speaker 9 (27:16):
No, I pride myself on typically bowling hard overs. So
thinking when I have a matchup is one thing. When
I when I feel like it's a matchup that can
sort of change the game, or they've got somebody that's
going well, try and cam myself in there and entry
and change the game. But yeah, you're right, it can
be difficult being a bowler and being captain and yet

(27:39):
to be honest a couple because ago when I was
starting out in the food tracker, I did find it
difficult to sort of manage my ten overs, but it's
something that I've definitely developed as well, So I've definitely
learned a lot in that space.

Speaker 2 (27:52):
And I mean, economy is something that you're renowned for.
I mean, you only you go for just a tick over,
set on over across your entire T twenty career. Is
the aim to be economical or do you also try
to be a wicket taking threat?

Speaker 9 (28:08):
I think they For me they come hand in hand
sort of my role with the attacking nature of ours
thing ballers that we've got. It's definitely just to try
and restrict runs and the wicket taking sort of looks
after itself if you can manage to balance the run.
So yeah, for me, if I can manage to balance
the runs, typically the wickets will come as well. So

(28:29):
it's kind of that's one of those ones where you'd
like to say that you're trying to do both all
the time. But for me, wicket taking typically comes through
restricting runs and when I get that right, wickets come.

Speaker 11 (28:38):
So yeah.

Speaker 2 (28:39):
The seasons structure as well means you play full trophy.
Then some red bull cricket now into the T twenty
Super Smash, have you and the other player has just
gotten pretty good at switching quickly between the formats.

Speaker 9 (28:53):
Yeah, I think we've definitely got better at it. But
I think probably the tricky one is going from plunket
shield into soup smash.

Speaker 12 (29:01):
So we finished a four day all.

Speaker 9 (29:04):
Of seven days ago and then all of and you've
got to completely switch from just banging away at the
top of off to having all your change ups, being
able to nail you York and being able to nail
your slower balls in the space of a week, which
doesn't seem like much prep. But fortunately we manage to
get out and play some Chapel Cup for our minor
associations over the weekend, so it was good prep. But yeah,

(29:26):
it can be tricky at times, But I think the
big one is switching from plunket shield straight into service smash.
That can be a little bit tricky.

Speaker 2 (29:34):
And apart from Tom Bruce Bangle, why is the central
side fairly similar to last season's championship winning side.

Speaker 9 (29:42):
Yeah, I think our personnel is more or less exactly
the same. We've managed to get to convince Foxy to
come back up to CD from Otago, so he's a
huge asset to our unit with batan ball and he's
got to hell of a lot of experience, so yeah,
he's a huge asset. And then obviously unfortunately losing Ticks
in the Test match a couple of weeks ago as

(30:05):
a shame, but we know how much he offers offers
us off the park as well, so I'm sure he'll
be charming in his two cents here and there. For
sure he will be.

Speaker 2 (30:15):
He looks like kind of guy who's never short a
bit of advice, even win his shoulders all sort of
in a slang and things like that.

Speaker 9 (30:21):
He's on the men, So that's good.

Speaker 2 (30:22):
Good to hear, Jayden. An exciting time for you domestically
and internationally and by the sounds of it, off the
park as well. Thanks for chatting to us, mate, all
the best for the defense of your Super Smash Trophy. Yes, yes,
the things, No, thank you mate. That is Jaden Lennox,
captain of CD and four trophy and T twenty although
as you heard to mention that he'll be heading away,
so I guess they'll find another captain, but they will

(30:43):
have his leadership this afternoon where they take on the
Wellington Firebirds and the opening match of their defense of
the men's T twenty Championship. The women are under way
and Parmeerston North are just about to be Georgia Plummer
and Merely Kur who up in the batting for the blase.
Rosemary Mayor, a fellow White Fern, is going to open
the bowl and will keep eyes on that. In Australia,

(31:03):
eleven without loss in their second inning. The lead of
fifty's now over England. Right at the start of day
two of the boxing day Test, we're going to take
a break. When we come back, it's the golf we go.
It's a really really big event coming in February at
the Royal Wellington Golf Club, the Women's Amateur Asia Pacific Championship.
This is this is a tournament with quite the carrot

(31:25):
at the end of it. Nine kiwis are involved, including
our top amateur in Sir Choice. She's going to join
us for a chat right after this.

Speaker 1 (31:34):
The Tough Questions Off the Turf Weekend Sport with Jason
Pine and GJ. Gunnerholmes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder
News Talks B.

Speaker 2 (31:43):
News Talks AB quarter to one. Royal Wellington Golf Club
is hosting the eighth edition of the Women's Amateur Asia
Pacific Championship from February twelve through fifteen next year, bringing
together the region's best young amateur women's golfers. The winner
earns starts in three major championships, the AIG Women's Open,
the Amundai Evon Championship and the Chevron Championship. Eighty four

(32:05):
players from twe country set to contest, including a record
nine from New Zealand. Among them is in Sir Choi,
who is currently ranked fifty fourth in the World Amateur Rankings,
our top amateur. She joins us now and so thanks
for joining us. You've played this event several times before.
How special is it to play the Women's Amateur Asia
Pacific Championship though in your own home country?

Speaker 13 (32:28):
Thanks true.

Speaker 14 (32:29):
This is my uns lay at fourth time, so there's
no fift time going into playing this toilet and it
feels like a great honor to be playing it back
in my home country because I've been telling many other
competitors that New Zealand is such a great place to
come to and it's like such a prey to be
able to show Pibah.

Speaker 10 (32:46):
After raw Is and how amazing Gorfusian is able to
provide for the rest of the players of the world
to come compare on our home soil.

Speaker 2 (32:55):
So you were thirteenth in the twenty twenty five edition,
are the best of the kiwis sixty one, sorry, sixty seven,
seventy one, sixty seven, sixty seven. How do you reflect
back on the twenty twenty five edition of this tournament.

Speaker 10 (33:07):
I think it was a really great learning opportunity for me.

Speaker 13 (33:11):
It was definitely one of my best.

Speaker 10 (33:13):
Performances so far, and I'm very part of the result
I've made, and during this time there were many moments
where I hope that I could have done better, but
I think it was a moment for me to reflect
on and push forward for the twenty twenty six editions.

Speaker 2 (33:30):
The winner earns starts in three major championships. How big
an incentive is that for an amateur golfer.

Speaker 13 (33:38):
That is a very big incentive.

Speaker 10 (33:41):
It's one of the three major events, and it's a
great opportunity for us to get to know the professional
playing field, and just getting within the top top ranking
of that tournament gives us like points for this college
ranking system which allows if we have enough points, which
allows us to go professional without taking any two school

(34:05):
or pro testing. So it's like a very big incentive
for us.

Speaker 2 (34:10):
Absolutely. I just want to take you back to twenty
twenty four. You won the New Zealand Women's Strike Play
Championship and the New Zealand Women's Amateur Championship, and that's
a double that even Lydia Coe didn't achieve in the
same year when she was an amateur. So tell us
about twenty twenty four and in particular those two wins.

Speaker 10 (34:29):
Last year turn twenty four, I was prapping for college
and it was like my final year of high school.
So around the last three months of t twenty four,
I had no school and JOSS exams. So I've been
grinding on golf for a very long time, and during
that time I have managed one the two tournaments, which

(34:51):
I'm very grateful.

Speaker 13 (34:52):
And thankful for.

Speaker 10 (34:53):
I think it was all based on the hard work
and the grind that I've been putting in for the
past two twenty four and that's what.

Speaker 13 (35:00):
Got me to that level.

Speaker 2 (35:02):
So you're now based at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California,
which sounds like a very nice part of the world.
Tell us about the decision to move there and how
you've enjoyed your time there.

Speaker 10 (35:14):
Firstly, I've met the coach in Australia while playing a
tournament as I was playing with one of the graduate
students there. She just told me about how great Peppadine
was and I was like, oh, they sounds so great,
and she was like asking if she should put me
on with the coach. So I talked with the coach
a fair a bit with both my parents and going

(35:36):
to California on my own does seem a bit risky. However,
she was very welcoming and open, and a lot of
my teammates already knew beforehand, so it felt like if
big family going there, and everyone at Pepperdine is really nice.

Speaker 13 (35:52):
The weather's great, which is the best part.

Speaker 10 (35:54):
We're by the ocean, the views amazing, so you can't
really hate ma Levis.

Speaker 2 (35:59):
No, it doesn't sound like it sounds like a great
place to be playing golf. So how much has your
game developed in the last twelve months since you've been
in the States.

Speaker 13 (36:10):
It definitely has developed a lot.

Speaker 10 (36:11):
I'm hitting it much further, my scores are much more consistent.

Speaker 13 (36:16):
I'm feeling much stronger for sure.

Speaker 10 (36:18):
I'm definitely much more ready for future tournaments and anything
that is to come, as I'm balancing much more scorework
and the travels that's been going on for the past year.

Speaker 2 (36:28):
So in a typical week, and so how much golf
are you playing? Are you playing every day or does
your study not allow that? What does a typical week
look like for you?

Speaker 10 (36:38):
A typical week would look like sixties a week and
then a day off, But then it'll be for us.
It's a bit different during the winter and the summer
because sometimes it gets darker, like five pm or like
six pm, So we'll start from twelve pm after our
classes are finished until it gets dark and then we

(36:59):
study for the.

Speaker 13 (36:59):
Rest of the night.

Speaker 2 (37:01):
Wow, and when and how did your golf journey begin?
Can you remember the first time you picked up a
golf club?

Speaker 13 (37:09):
Yes? I can.

Speaker 15 (37:11):
So.

Speaker 10 (37:12):
The thing was, I always enjoyed playing.

Speaker 13 (37:14):
Different sports, and it actually started off.

Speaker 10 (37:16):
From many golf and then my dad asked if I
wanted to play golf for real, and honestly, maybe naive,
I didn't realize what he meant by it, and I
just said yes willingly.

Speaker 13 (37:28):
And on Christmophy.

Speaker 10 (37:30):
I just found golf clubs were under the tree, and
I was like, yay, and that is lucky how I started.

Speaker 2 (37:36):
So how old were you then?

Speaker 10 (37:38):
I was around seven and a half.

Speaker 2 (37:40):
Amazing, amazing and what you just thought it was going
to be a big game of mini golf.

Speaker 10 (37:44):
Yeah, with both different sets of clubs, amazing interrange.

Speaker 2 (37:51):
So when did when did you start to take it
quite seriously?

Speaker 9 (37:55):
Then?

Speaker 2 (37:55):
How old would you have been?

Speaker 6 (37:57):
So?

Speaker 10 (37:57):
Funny thing is my dad also reeled me into it.
He said, the thing is, if I was to start
a golf then I have to go pro, like I
have to be serious on the start. So I guess
from the end of eight.

Speaker 2 (38:11):
Wow, So you're dad when you were an eight year
old said okay, you can play, but only if you
take it seriously enough to turn pro one day.

Speaker 13 (38:18):
Yes, you saw the vis before I start.

Speaker 2 (38:22):
Wow, So let's talk about that. Then you mentioned it
before about getting enough points. How will you know when
it's time to turn pro? Or is it just a
matter of getting enough points? How does it all work?

Speaker 10 (38:33):
So the college system has its own point, but to
go professional, it's.

Speaker 13 (38:37):
Honestly all up to you.

Speaker 10 (38:39):
Then most countries, I think you have to be eighteen
to go professional, while.

Speaker 13 (38:46):
LPGA is eighteen. However, once you hit the age, you.

Speaker 10 (38:51):
Can choose to play college or you can choose to
like if you play really well, you can make you
can get points in college as I mentioned before, or
you can just decide to go professional and like try
to school, which is like the testing stage four going professional.

Speaker 7 (39:07):
So have you?

Speaker 2 (39:09):
Yeah?

Speaker 10 (39:10):
So have you?

Speaker 2 (39:11):
What is the plan? Will you complete your studies? What
is the plan? When do you think as we sit
here today, when ideally would you go pro?

Speaker 10 (39:20):
I've got two more This was my second year, so
I have brown two and a half more years left
of college and I think I will finish, so once
again my degree, I think I will try and grow professional.

Speaker 2 (39:33):
Amazing, amazing. Well, it's a very exciting time for you,
and in particular coming to Royal Wellington in the middle
of February for the Women's Amateur Asia Pacific Championship, and
so it has been wonderful to get the chance to
chat to you all the best for that tournament and
for your golfing career. We look forward to staying in touch.
Thank you, no, thank you. Into Choy, our top female

(39:53):
amateur golfer head of the Women's Amateur Asia Pacific Championship
at Royal Wellington in mid February seven to one News talks, heb.

Speaker 1 (40:02):
Let's go from the drag field and the court on
your home of Lord again Sport.

Speaker 4 (40:07):
Where's Jason Vine? News talks eNB.

Speaker 2 (40:10):
Four to one. Scott Bowlin's out at the mcg caught
behind off the bowling of Gus Atkinson for six. Australia
twenty two for one. Jack weather All's come out to
join Travis Head. So it's the regular opening pair at
the wicket now Australia with a lead of sixty four
runs with nine second innings wickets in hand. After the
one o'clock news, Tom Abercrombie going to have a singlet
retired by the Breakers, his iconic number ten that he

(40:32):
wore so often and so successfully. And Sam Cosgrove out
of Auckland FC their new English striker joining us too. Yes,
So a year in review show for you between midday
and three tomorrow we'll look back on some of the
big stories, the big controversies, the big interviews and some
of our favorite moments sports wise from the last year.

(40:53):
So twenty twenty five the weekend Sport Year in review
tomorrow between midday and three. For today though we carry
on but to get through this hour, off to Melbourne
where the second day of the Boxing Day Test is underway.
Adam Peacock, our regular Australian correspondent on a Saturday, is
ed Melbourne. He's at the mcg watching on so he'll

(41:15):
join us in around no thirty thirty five minutes or
so to give us the update and also try and
unpack an absolutely crazy day yesterday. I worry about the
Cricket Australia books, you know the accountant see books. I
mean they had a two day Test in Perth after
twenty wickets fell yesterday. This one hadn't gone the distance either,

(41:36):
so you think about the ticket sales that and the
revenue they'll miss out on from the possibility of a
two or three day Test in Melbourne. Anyway, we can
talk to Adam Peacock about that updating you the score
actually thirty nine for one Australia thirty nine for one
in their second innings, Scott Bolding the man out earlier
today for six. Travis heads there on twenty four. Jake

(41:59):
weatheralld unbeaten on five thirty nine for one Australian alleyed
by eighty one runs, which doesn't sound like a lot,
but in the context of this match and the series,
actually it's fairly substantial. We'll keep eyes on that for
you and as I say, get you to Melbourne and
in the supersmatch, the women's game at a sun soaked
fitz Herbert Park in Palmerston North, the defending champion Wellington

(42:23):
Blaze have made a pretty good start to their title defense.
In the seventh over there through to fifty five without loss,
fifty five without loss, Georgia Plumber and Milli Kerr, the
two Whitefern's batters are together and going along very nicely.
In the fifty five without loss and the seventh over
that's a run rate of eight and a half for

(42:44):
the Blaze. The men's game is a little bit later
on this afternoon. We'll keep you updated. The New Zealand
Breakers meantime will honor one of their all time greats.
They are going to retire the iconic number ten singlet
of four time anbl champion Tom Abercrombie.

Speaker 3 (43:03):
Tom twenty aouy.

Speaker 2 (43:11):
Tom Abercrombie famously wore the number ten throughout his four
hundred and twenty nine game career with the Breakers. He
won the Grand Final MVP in twenty eleven, was an
All NBL First Team member in twenty twelve, and appeared
in all five of the Breakers' Championship Series appearances throughout
his illustrious sixteen season career. He is just the fourth

(43:35):
Breakers player to receive the honor of having his number retired,
alongside former teammates Paul Hennaday the number thirty two, c J.
Bruton the number twenty three, and Dylan Boucher the number
twenty four. And it was Dylan Boucher who broke the
news to Tom Abercrombie in recent days that his number
was to be retired. Tom Abercrombie is with us. Congratulations mate,

(43:57):
huge congratulations on this. Did you know that this was
in the works.

Speaker 16 (44:03):
Yeah, thanks, jes Look, I knew it was probably going
to happen at some stage, but it had no idea
probably it would happen so soon, and certainly when Dylan
invited me into have a chat to the boys, I
had no idea that was what was going to eventually.
It was a lovely surprise.

Speaker 11 (44:22):
Obviously. It's incredible honor.

Speaker 16 (44:25):
And a great chance to reminisce on some great memories
once again and remember all the awesome people.

Speaker 11 (44:31):
That were along that journey with me.

Speaker 16 (44:34):
It feels like I've been retired for for a long
time now, but it's only a couple of years removed,
and certainly there's some times where where I miss being
out there, but for the most part, happily retired being
a fan and nice to be able to now look
back on the good times and celebrate once again.

Speaker 2 (44:49):
Wonderful stuff. We're talking about reminiscing. How much do you
remember about game one in that number ten single it.

Speaker 16 (44:57):
I do actually remember Game one pretty well. I can't
remember who we were playing, but I do know that
Andre Lamanez subbed me in late in the game. We
were blowing someone out, so the youngster got a few minutes.
I was a development player with the Breakers that year,
and we ran a little stagger stagger play for me

(45:18):
as soon as I came in the game, and I
came screaming off a couple of turnouts and knocked down
a corner three ball and that was my first bucket
in the NBL. And then I think next time down
the court we ran a little alley oop player, and
I killed around and caught an elloop and put it in.
So pretty good fitting way to start off the career.
There would be a lot more threes and olle ooops
along the way, so nice to start off with a

(45:41):
couple of them in the first game.

Speaker 2 (45:42):
That must have been awesome to watch that free drop
with your first shot. I mean, that's magnificent you must
have as you put the shot up. I mean, I
know what basketball is like. You know, you know more
than half the time they don't go in. You know,
how did you feel when it dropped through?

Speaker 9 (45:55):
Yeah?

Speaker 16 (45:56):
I was certainly at that stage of my career, and
at my age, I was hoping more than knowing it
was going to go in, and oh gosh, you hope
and infest things enough and good things happened.

Speaker 11 (46:08):
So luckily it went down.

Speaker 16 (46:09):
Gave me a little confidence boost and settled the nerves
a little bit, and she was all off to the
races from there.

Speaker 2 (46:16):
Did you feel comfortable straight away in the A and
BL or did that take a little bit of time.

Speaker 16 (46:23):
To be honest, I did. I spent a couple of
years over in college before that. Washington State didn't have
a great time and never felt comfortable over there in
that environment. But there's something about coming back home, playing
in my hometown, being coached by Andre and being mentored
I guess by the likes of Paul Henarde and Dylan

(46:43):
Boucher and CJ. Bruden, these guys who looked up to
as a youngster who are now my teammates. Just had
a real good comfort level in my surroundings there and
could feel myself getting better and better every day and practice.
So when I did step on the on the court,
I did feel confident.

Speaker 11 (47:00):
You know, I knew I had some.

Speaker 16 (47:03):
Skills there, especially athletically, where I could compete and be
better than a lot of my competitors straight away. So
it gave me a pretty good leg up. And as
I said, you know, once you are able to knock
a couple of shots down, confidence a wonderful thing. And
I was able to hit the ball running, which is
really good for the rest of my career.

Speaker 2 (47:23):
Does any particular season stand out above the others?

Speaker 6 (47:29):
Oh?

Speaker 16 (47:30):
I mean, as part of the joys of sport tilor
Every season is a different journey and you have different experiences,
different teammates, so it's hard to pick out one in particular.
But I think certainly that that first year we won
the first championship was a real, real special one. We
were the first New Zealand team to win an Australasian

(47:50):
competition and we'd come really close the year before too.
We bought Kevin braswell and late in the season won
our last six games in a row and unfortunately just
missed out in the playoffs and in a countback, and
we were really confident, you know, if we'd been able
to make it, we could have gone all the way
that year. But basically brought back the same group the
year after that and absolutely blitzed the table and went

(48:12):
through and just had an awesome year with a great
group of people, played some really good basketball and then
had you know, the start of that epic rivalry with
Perth and Ken's. In the playoff series there were able
to get over the top and I believe we beat
Ken's in the final that year at the North for
Events ended when the first one, which is pretty special,

(48:35):
we had a parade up Queen Street where I was
convinced no one was going to be there, but we
had a really good turnout and that was really cool.
My one and only parade, so lots of good memories
from that year, for sure.

Speaker 2 (48:46):
Can you pinpoint when you personally were playing your best basketball?

Speaker 11 (48:54):
No, probably not. I think.

Speaker 16 (48:58):
I was always a really good athlete in my youth
all throughout my career, but especially when I was young.
I think I really relied on athleticism. It's able to
you know, you're able to make up for a lot
just by being quick and being able to jump high.
So I use that to my advantage. I think, you know,
later on in my career became a more well rounded player.

(49:20):
Certainly my first first year when we had Dan Shamier
as the head coach, I think was probably my most
balanced and well rounded season. I shot fifty to forty
ninety that year, which was only the second player in
the history of the league to do that, which is
fifty percent from the field, forty percent of the free
throw line, in ninety percent from the free throw line.

(49:41):
So that was a really cool little achievement and probably
my most consistent season. But I think some of those
early ones, when I was a bit younger and flying
around the court and just jumping a little bit higher,
certainly felt like I was probably more at my athletic peak.
But you know, things come at different stages throughout your career.
You've got to learn to adapt and evolve, and I
think I did a pretty good job of that as
I went along my career, a little bit slower as

(50:04):
I got a little bit older, but you know, the leadership,
shooting and things, that sort of stuff picks up.

Speaker 2 (50:09):
How did you know it was time to retire?

Speaker 16 (50:14):
I probably just wasn't enjoying the game as much as.

Speaker 11 (50:17):
I had previously.

Speaker 16 (50:20):
I don't think anyone really knows exactly the right time
to do it, but in hindsight, you get a pretty
good idea and the fact that I haven't really missed
being out in the court court since I have retired.
I think I've picked up a ball about four or
five times in the last couple of years since I've
hung up the boots, and I have no regrets. So
it tells me that I did make the right decision

(50:40):
at the right time, and I was very lucky I
got to call it quits when I wanted to. Wasn't
forced into it by you know, my powers fading or
injuries or anything like that. I just felt like it
was the right time. I'd achieved all I'd wanted to
do in the sports and felt like I was leaving
in a good place. So very comfortable with that decision

(51:01):
and happy just being a fan now and watching the boys.
It's a different perspective sitting back and watching. You know,
when you're playing the game and you're able to control things,
you don't feel I guess the nervousness as much as
you do as a fan, and you're riding every emotion
as a fan, and just those ups and downs in
the game, you feel it a lot more so. Apologies

(51:23):
to all the fans who rode that wave with me
for such a long time, But I'm right there with
you now.

Speaker 2 (51:29):
And you're part of the Breaker's ownership group right too,
so now as well. So what is your current day
to day involvement with the club.

Speaker 16 (51:36):
I don't have a lot of day to day involvement.
I'm involved in the ownership group and I'm sort of
there as a mentor to whoever needs me. But I'm
working full time in the corporate realm now with Craig's
Investment Partners as and advisor. Been in that since the
start of this year and really enjoying the challenge of
doing something different. I really know what I wanted to

(51:56):
do when I retired. I just knew that I wanted
to get away from sports and basketball for a little
bit and challenge myself in something different, And certainly this
new role is ticking all of those boxes. And I
still get to be part of the breakers and look
at things from a different lens as part of that
ownership group, and be a part of the ride alongside
the boys as well. So really enjoying where I've got

(52:17):
to now in a professional space. It took a while,
it was hard transitioning out of sport, but very lucky
with where I'm at at the moment.

Speaker 2 (52:26):
Good Man, So when does the singlet get hoisted up
into the rafters? Is that a special ceremony at some point?

Speaker 17 (52:31):
Yeah?

Speaker 16 (52:32):
Yeah, No, we will have a bit of a ceremony
at one of the games. I'm not sure exactly which one.
I think we're targeting one of the ones sort of
later in January, but I'm sure there'll be some colms
from the club when we have circled the exact date
and game that that's going to be done, and hopefully
we can get a good crowd along there and celebrate
on the night. It'd be good to hopefully catch up

(52:52):
with a few old teammates and people.

Speaker 11 (52:54):
Who have been there along the journey.

Speaker 16 (52:56):
Lots of family will be there, they've been a big
part of that journey as well as well as all
the Breakers family, the fans, and the sponsors and previous
ownership groups, the Blackwells, you know, the list can go on.
There's so many people who've been part of them by
Jenny for such a long time, so it would be
really cool to get together with all of them and
celebrate sometimes. So watch the space to be happening sometime

(53:20):
obviously this season, hopefully the end of Jen and it'll
be a great.

Speaker 2 (53:23):
Night, no doubt, no doubt, look forward to that. Tom,
congrats on joining Paul Hannaday, CJ Bruton, Dilan Boucher, three
year former teammates up in the rafters their congratulations mate,
thanks for chatting as always.

Speaker 11 (53:33):
Awesome Thanks Bonnie, No, thank.

Speaker 2 (53:35):
You, Thomas Abercrombie. There the iconic number ten singlet to
be retired as you Thomas mentioned there sometime in January.
Keep an air out and an eye out break his
fans for when that'll be said to be a very
special night there when the single that has retired four
hundred and twenty nine games across sixteen seasons for Thomas
am mc crombie. If anybody deserves to have their number retired,

(53:58):
it is that gentleman. Last night, the Breakers snapped a
three game losing streak. Incidentally, they were starting to just
stumble ever so slightly after an uplifting form an eighty
one to eighty overtime win over the Tasmania jack Jumpers.

Speaker 3 (54:16):
Got name for it in makes it a one point
game and the New Zealand Breakers will come away with
a critical victory to the season.

Speaker 2 (54:27):
It was pretty critical, his coach, but Terry Copenan afterwards,
a mixture of pride and relief for the head coach.

Speaker 18 (54:36):
We talk about a lot playing with character, with energy,
and that's exactly what that game was. And I'm really
proud of them how they showed up and bounced back
after the few difficult games and does have to be
the standard every time we step on the court.

Speaker 2 (54:51):
But Terry Copenhan also says their willingness to compete was
the catalyst for the win and a lift and energy
made a lot of difference.

Speaker 18 (54:59):
Listen, all of these pretty we couldn't make some shots.
We couldn't get to the free throw line. But we
get fighting. We didn't fold on those difficult moments. Everybody
who went on the court played with energy. The guys
put together and that's what I'm really proud of.

Speaker 2 (55:12):
And as often happens when the Breakers win, Parker Jackson
Cartwright was a big part of it. The import point
guard got the basket that helped the Breakers force over
time and then six quick points to start the overtime period.
He says he knows there are times when he just
has to put the team on his shoulders.

Speaker 19 (55:30):
That doesn't always mean I have to, you know, impose
on scoring, but just making things happen.

Speaker 11 (55:35):
I think I.

Speaker 19 (55:36):
Kind of just feel how the game's going on and
force it. If I can take it for myself, I
will so.

Speaker 2 (55:41):
And he also says they knew they needed to bring
their best against the jack Jumpers, who were the twenty
twenty four champions.

Speaker 19 (55:46):
They're champions, they're high level, very well coached, and when
you come to play them away or home, you got
to take their best shot because they're going to give
it to you. But again, you know, we've had some
good battles with them, and it's always fun playing against them.

Speaker 2 (55:59):
So pretty important when for the break is there last night'
a little bit of a break. Now they don't play again.
I'm just gonna check my factor right here. They don't
play again untill the fourth of January, which is next Sunday,
so an eight day break and then they'll welcome the
Perth Wildcats to Spark Arena. So went onto the breakers
on their win last night, updating you on Live Cricket.

(56:19):
First of all at the MCG where England have claimed
their second wicket. They've picked up the wicket of opener
Jake weatheraald or though he came in at number three
in this innings after Scott Bowland, the night Watchman opened
Jake weatherold out bowled by Ben Stokes for five. It's
been a pretty average series for Jake weatheralt not twenty
three seventy two in Brisbane and seventeen not out then

(56:41):
eighteen one, ten and five one hundred and forty six runs, sorry,
one hundred and sixty six runs, one hundred and forty
six I'll get my maths right. One hundred and forty
six runs across those those eight innings. So yeah, I'm
wondering about his position perhaps for the fifth Test in Sydney.
Marnus Labashane has come out to join Travis head. Head's

(57:03):
going along nicely twenty six not out Barba Shane unbeaten
on one, Australia forty two for two now leading by
eighty four and in the Super Smash the Central Hines
have picked up their first wik at merely Kurra is
out for a run of ball thirty four. The Wellington
Blaze seventy eight for one in the eleventh over, with
Rebecca Burns coming out to join Georgia Plimmer, who's currently

(57:24):
thirty seven off twenty six deliveries including six boundaries. We're
going to take a break when we come back, we'll
flick across to football.

Speaker 7 (57:31):
Now.

Speaker 2 (57:32):
All things being equal, we would have been looking forward
to a top of the table a league men's clash
tonight with Auckland FC up against Sydney FC. Unfortunately that's
not going to happen because a week or so ago
it was deemed that the like Art Oval pitch was unplayable.
They can't play a game there. The pitch isn't up
to standard. So instead of traveling over there on Christmas Day,

(57:52):
at least the Auckland FC players and staff got the
chance to spend Christmas with their families. I'm sure they
would have enjoyed a game of football tonight, but that's
not to be. Sam Cosgrove, their import striker, going to
join us for a chat right after this.

Speaker 1 (58:04):
Don't get caught offside eighty Weekend Sports with Jason Paine
and GJ. Guvnerhoves New Zealand's most trusted home builder News Talks.

Speaker 2 (58:13):
MB News TALKSB one twenty eight. Auckland FC were scheduled
to be playing a top of the table A League
men's clash tonight against Sydney FC. Unfortunately, the Leichhart Oval
pitch has failed an inspection, so the game's been postponed.
A new date for it is yet to be confirmed.
What that means is that Auckland's next match is now

(58:36):
against the Newcastle Jets at Mount Smart on New Year's Day.
Leading the line for Auckland FC this season has been
their new import English striker Sam Cosgrove.

Speaker 3 (58:49):
Hannah from Cosgrove, we have spoken about him.

Speaker 2 (58:52):
That is out of absolutely nothing.

Speaker 4 (58:55):
Who goes to the edge of the fox.

Speaker 2 (58:57):
It's a wonderful delivery and the danger of Sam Cosgrove
just pops up once again. He's virtually unmarked on that
six yard Folexandrew Redminds stopped him a couple of times.

Speaker 9 (59:08):
But what I hit of that is after a great delivery,
same codscrive gets the sport of the season.

Speaker 2 (59:13):
An open late too, Sam Cosgrove joins us on Weekend Sport.
Thanks for your time, Sam, two away wins in your
last two games. So how happy do you think the
coaching staff were with with your performances over the last
couple of mates.

Speaker 20 (59:29):
I'm not too sure about my individual performances. Obviously, a
goal and assists and an assist is kind of what
I'm here to do. But you know, I think that
as a collective, that's kind of what we're more more
concerned about, you know, the emphasis and how we're starting games,
how we're continuing games, and how we're finishing games. And
I think over the course of one hundred and eighty

(59:51):
minutes plus, I think the manager will be happy. And
as as players, we've been, we've been pleased with the
way the way we've been going and the performances we're
putting in. So yeah, definitely that the mood is the
mood is good in camp right now.

Speaker 2 (01:00:05):
It was over forty degrees during the day there in
Sydney last Friday, I think still thirty or so. It'd
kickoff in your game against Western Sydney. How are you
personally dealing with the physical demands of playing football in
the summer having been used to playing it in the
winter for so many seasons.

Speaker 20 (01:00:23):
It's been tough, mate, I won't lie. It's definitely something
that's new for me. I mean, obviously back home, I've
only really ever played consistently in England and Scotland and
you get maybe three or four weeks a year that
get over twenty degrees. So yeah, walking around Sydney on
our kind of pre match walking forty two degree blasting

(01:00:45):
heat was interesting. And then it didn't really feel like
it cooled down too much. It was almost as if
the dry heat stopped and the humidity ramped up. So yeah,
I'll be honest, it was tough and it's something that
I'm going to have to get used to very quickly
coming into the summer in the Southern Hemisphere. But listen,
it's part and pastorals coming here. I knew this was

(01:01:06):
to be the case when I came over, so I'm
adapting well, but it's going to take it will take
probably a wee better time to get used to.

Speaker 2 (01:01:13):
Yeah, I guess the other thing that that will be
a little bit different for you is the travel. Of
course you travel in the UK, but it would be
mainly bus travel, wouldn't it. How have you found the
train's Tasman air travel so far?

Speaker 8 (01:01:25):
I've enjoyed it too, honest mate.

Speaker 20 (01:01:27):
The you know, the back and forth through the airport,
it's it's good and it's similar to the bus travel
back home. I mean the flight across is about three
hours then you get give or take an hour or
two either side, so you know, I was regularly doing
four or five six hour plus bus journeys back home
in England, so it's not too dissimilar. But listen, as

(01:01:50):
there was no excuse for the boys last year, so
we absolutely won't be an excuse for us this year.
We we can't feel sorry for ourselves at all with
the travel or anything like that. And as you said,
kind of, so far we've we've performed well away from home,
so if we can pick up another another three points,
it will have been an impressive and impressive throughout three
away from home during this period.

Speaker 2 (01:02:11):
Before Auckland, you played most recently for Stockport County Online
from Barnsley. How did the move to Auckland come about?

Speaker 8 (01:02:21):
The long story or the short story?

Speaker 2 (01:02:23):
Got plenty of time, We've got plenty.

Speaker 20 (01:02:24):
Of I'll keep it fairly short, but no, it was.
It was something that came completely out of the blue. Obviously,
I found myself kind of out of contract as a
free agent, but it was relatively early days and I
had plenty of options in England and up and down
the country, but there was nothing that really kind of.

Speaker 8 (01:02:47):
Excited me at the time.

Speaker 20 (01:02:48):
And it was just a call completely out of the
blue from my agent and he mentioned Auckland and my
geography isn't too bad, I said to him, New Zealand,
isn't it? It was, I'll be honest, it's kind of
The more that I looked into the club and the
league and everything that had kind of gone on, the
more it did excite me as a challenge. And as

(01:03:09):
I said, I'd only ever played consistently within England and Scotland,
and as if kind.

Speaker 8 (01:03:15):
Of my career had gone a wee bit stale.

Speaker 20 (01:03:19):
And I needed kind of something to bring a little
bit more life into me and my footballing career, and
this kind of seemed a perfect opportunity to go and
do something different and experience something new, and so far
I've absolutely loved it and it seems like the correct
decision so far, so long mate, continue.

Speaker 2 (01:03:38):
Absolutely And you came into a squad in Auckland where
it was fairly consistent from last year, a couple of departures,
couple of new arrivals, obviously yourself included How easy a
squad was it to fit into when you first arrived.

Speaker 20 (01:03:51):
Yeah, it really is, I mean straight away kind of
the manager and the coach has explained in detail what
they wanted from me and the player that they wanted
me to be and where I'd fit into the plans.
And I think that there's one thing that's really evident
coming in early doors is this is an incredibly humble

(01:04:12):
and welcoming squad. We work extremely hard, there's no there's
no egos, there's no one who kind of spits the
dummy out when things are going going against them. So
in terms of coming into the squad, everyone was incredibly welcoming.
As I said, it was highlighted from day one what
the manager wanted from me, and you know, I've been
working hard to be that since day one and it's taken.

(01:04:36):
It's taken a little bit of time to get myself
kind of up to the up to speed physically with
what the manager wants. And there's still a lot more
work to come from me on that side of things.
But so far, so far, so good, so kind of
how that continues.

Speaker 2 (01:04:50):
There's a striker coming into a new club and you've
you've come into new clubs before in the UK, you've
hit a few clubs on your CV. Do you feel
extra precire to score goals early? I know, you know
it's about more than just that, but do you feel,
as I appreciate, to get off the mark into consistently
score goals.

Speaker 8 (01:05:11):
I'd say so yeah.

Speaker 20 (01:05:12):
I mean there's there's one thing the matter where you
go in the world playing football, there's a universal currency
of goals and points. So for me as a striker,
it's I'm going to be measured on very very simply
my goal return, and the team is going to be
measured on how how many points would pick up. So
you know these numbers they do matter, but it is

(01:05:35):
the old cliche. As long as we're kind of putting
in good performances and we're winning games.

Speaker 8 (01:05:40):
I'm happy. Whoever scores.

Speaker 20 (01:05:42):
You know mentioned the one at the weekend where I've
taken a shot and it's taken a dubious deflection off
mister Randall and he's taken taking credit for the goal.
But listeners, as long as we can keep picking up
three points, I'm not bothered.

Speaker 8 (01:05:57):
I fascor.

Speaker 2 (01:05:58):
I think dubious dubious has been very kind to Jesse
Randall in that situation. Hell on Earth, Yes, he been
credited with that. He gets on the ground, he's lying
down here. Has he got that goal?

Speaker 7 (01:06:09):
Yeah?

Speaker 8 (01:06:09):
I mean I've been joking with him.

Speaker 20 (01:06:11):
We had a we had a joke after the after
the Phoenix game the first RB where I've kind of
nicked one of his goals bye, obviously completely unintentionally trying
to move the defender out of the way and it
has ricocheted onto my leg.

Speaker 8 (01:06:25):
So I was laughing and joking. I said, I was
trying and.

Speaker 20 (01:06:28):
Get you a an easy assist at some point this
season to make it even. And I think I've repaid
that debt for sure.

Speaker 2 (01:06:35):
Absolutely well. The manager has plenty of options in a
tech doesn't he both starting in in game behind you,
Lachlan Brooks, you see Randal gives you my my Logan Rogerson,
Marley France, William Gillian. So how have you gone about
forging connections with each of them or are they all
just interchangeable parts in the Auckland FC system.

Speaker 6 (01:06:55):
I think so.

Speaker 20 (01:06:56):
I mean, you mentioned some of those names, and one
thing that's been evident, and one thing the manager has
really driven home is that he's not going to be
afraid to make changes. We've got kind of quality and
strength and depth all over the pitch. Now there's there's very,
very talented and impressive boys that aren't even getting a
sniff on the bench at the moment. So I think

(01:07:18):
one thing for us is just we've got the shirt
the boys that are started now, but there's absolutely no
god given right that we're going to be starting the
next game. So from that point of view, there's the
pressure to perform every single game because we know we've
got hungry guys behind the scenes. But yeah, listen, everyone
has their own strengths, and I mean I think at
the start of the season there was the front four

(01:07:42):
was myself Lucky who and knew Jesse who has been
unbelievable this season but didn't play loads of football last season,
and then Becaumomi who was kind of recovering from a
pretty serious knee injury that kind of got swept under
the carpet a little bit. So there was definitely connections
that needed to be formed. But I think that, as

(01:08:02):
you said, those connections are kind of forming really well
now and learning about each other arm learning about the
players of army, and it's definitely coming. It's coming together.
So if we can kind of continue along that path,
I'm sure that there'll be there'll be plenty more success
through the season.

Speaker 2 (01:08:19):
From yeah, I'm sure there will be. Sam, good on
you mate, great to chat to you. A shame you
can get a game tonight that we could enjoy against
in the FC. A date for that to be confirmed
a postponement date. But Auckland f C top of the
table at Christmas time. Thanks for joining us. Sam. Sam
Cosgrove there English striker with Auckland FC four goals so
far this season, one of half a dozen players who

(01:08:41):
have that many goals, including Wellington Phoenix's new import e
Fine is a Harry Sawyer from MacArthur scored his fifth
goal last night, so he's top of the Golden Boot
race at the moment. That was an absolutely crazy game
last night. I was watching this game and every time
you looked up there was a goal. It finished five

(01:09:01):
to four to MacArthur. MacArthur went wander up the Newcastle
won award. MacArthur two to won, Newcastle two wall. Then
there was an own goal and MacArthur wore her head
three to two, and then Harry Sawyer got his goal
for four to I thought, okay, well, sixty eight minutes
gone their home and host, but then Newcastle scored in
the seventy fifth and eighty third minutes all of a

(01:09:22):
sudden it's four all and then an added time. At
the end of the game, Luke Vickery scores the ninth
goal of the game. There was a touch of controversy
about it as well, with the suggestion of a fowl
in the build up, but it was given and Luke
Vickery the ninth goal and the decisive goal in a
five to four win for MacArthur over the Newcastle Jets

(01:09:44):
in Newcastle. So quite the game last night Auckland FC.
As I say, won't play tonight at Leichhart, so their
next game is a home game on New Year's Day
where they welcomed the Newcastle Jets fresh off that five
to four to go Media Stadium. You might remember the
last time Newcastle were here. It was that day absolutely
pelted down with rain so much said that they all

(01:10:06):
most called the game off. Newcastle Levenci won that game
two one, so they won't have any fear at all
about coming to Aukland. For the Wellington Phoenix, they play
Monday night against Melbourne victory at Amy Park. That is
nine o'clock New Zealand time on Monday night. That's two
days from now. I know you don't even know what
day it is. I think today is Saturday. I could
be wrong, but I think it is, so two nights

(01:10:28):
from now. Melbourne victory against Wellington Phoenix. For the Phoenix,
they're gonna have to break a long standing draught of
wins at that venue, Amy Park. The last time they
won there twenty seventeen. That's an awfully long time ago.
At the MCG fifty seven for two Australia with Larba,
Shane and Head together a ninety nine run lead, Wo'll
get you there shortly with Adam Peacock and in Parmeston North,

(01:10:50):
the Central Hinds have started to pick up a few
wickets after the Blaze got away to a pretty good start.
They are now Wellington ninety three for four in the
fifteenth over, batting first against the Heins. We'll take a
break when we come back. We're at the MCG Adam
Peacock to join us during this crazy, crazy Ashes Test match.

Speaker 1 (01:11:10):
The Voice of Sport on your home of Sport Weekend
Sport with Jason Vain and GJ. Gunner homes New Zealand's
most trusted ome builder, News TALKSB.

Speaker 2 (01:11:21):
One forty four Here on news Talks there B Let's
get you to Melbourne where it's day two of the
Boxing Day Ashes Test Australia in their second innings fifty
eight for two. They now have a lead of exactly
one hundred with eight second innings wickets in hand. Our
Australian correspondent right across the year and we hope well
into the future is Adam Peacock, who's tracking the Ashes

(01:11:41):
for the Willow Talk podcast as well as his own
personal interest. Can you in any way explain what happened yesterday,
Hey clinic, No.

Speaker 9 (01:11:50):
Not really. I think a wicket with a bit of
graft on it and very good bowling and I'm sure batting.
I think I wouldn't say out of form batting because
guys who were informed before it showed that even they
couldn't cope with it. Harry Brook Trotty's best kind of
hit through the conditions and take the bowler's ability to

(01:12:11):
move the ball out of there out of their control.
But other than that, it was just all bowling and
the pitcher is just feeling so much that, yeah, it
was almost impossible to bat on.

Speaker 2 (01:12:22):
How much talk has there been about the wicket and
the fact that it was so much in favor of
the same bowlers on day one.

Speaker 9 (01:12:29):
Yeah, a lot, a lot, a lot yesterday. It stunts
in a lot this morning before play started. It looks
to have calmed down a little bit, but it's still
doing a bit just watching the first hour here at
the MCG. But the way that it played, it's a
shame because I mean, RaSE you've watched cricket in India

(01:12:49):
for instance, where there's a stuck that wickets falling on
day one of the pitch conditions because it's turning so
much and we bemoan that. So I can see the
point of view that maybe it wasn't a great idea
to give the conditions so much to the bowlers. And yeah,
it's it's not ruined the match, but it's certainly taken
sessions and days off the end of the match. And yeah,

(01:13:12):
hopefully there's a day three so that they can have
their third trate to sell out.

Speaker 2 (01:13:15):
Well, I guess that's the other point here, isn't that
that this ashes series? What do we have? I think
eleven days combined for the first three Test matches. This
one will hopefully get to at least tomorrow and maybe
beyond who knows. But how much of a financial impact
will it have on Cricket Australia. Think you and I
talked about, you know, the two day Test in Perth.

(01:13:35):
What if Melbourne is a three day Test? How big
an impact does that have on the coffers at Cricket Australia.

Speaker 9 (01:13:41):
Yeah, it hurts him. It's not the ultimate sentity because look,
there's still going to be up to three hundred thousand
people coming through the gates if they have three days,
So it's not the end of the world. It does
take away from day four the broadcast is losing another
revenue in terms of that sales and all those things.
I think now everyone is wise to it that. I
think they now budget for essentially three and a half days,
so anything over that and there is a direct correlation.

(01:14:05):
You have a look at the number of draws in
Test cricket now in the last decade comparatively, and now
we're dealing with people who have actually not only seen
each twenty cricket, but grown up with each twenty cricket.
So it can't be a coincidence that those two things
have merged. And I don't think. I think that the
days of a lot of tests going to five well

(01:14:27):
and truly gone.

Speaker 2 (01:14:29):
Scott Boland. Can I ask about this guy? I mean,
he hasn't had a long career and Test cricket, but
every time he bowls he seems to get wicked. I
think this might only be a seventeenth test. He's a Victorian.
And then yesterday he came out to bat and the
second and he opened the bat. How much I heard
the roar from a television. How much do Victorians love
Scottie Boland?

Speaker 9 (01:14:51):
Oh, Victorians love Victorians who are playing for Israelia. They're
fart everything in the world. It doesn't get any betaphor
them because they think that they're taking over the Australian
team and fair enough to and it is a great
atmosphere when there is a Victorian doing good things at
the MCG. But it was a pretty smart play actually
when you think about it. With Scott Bowland, they had

(01:15:12):
one over to get through. If there's a wicket taken
at any point in that over, that's just the end
of the day's play. So they went, we'll get our
worst batter, Scotty Bowling at number eleven to go and
open the batting and if we lose him, there's no
material loss really on the day. So yeah, they played
it well.

Speaker 7 (01:15:30):
But he.

Speaker 9 (01:15:32):
Wickets were falling before he came on to ball and
it was like you're waiting for him to come on
the bowl to go. This ain't going to get better
for England and so what because he bolb beautifully in
these those conditions and you're going to be a nightmare
in England second innings as well.

Speaker 2 (01:15:45):
Michael Nates is the other one. He's what only in
his third Test match. I mean, where do you find
these guys.

Speaker 9 (01:15:52):
It's just the space system that works so well that
these guys are like just hardened cricket as they know
their game so well and when we get a conditions
based selection required that they can go and find someone.
Generally speaking, adding, our batting supplies aren't as plentiful as
our bowling supplies at the moment, and we've got a
few others waiting in the wings bowling wise that could

(01:16:14):
get a start. So batting wise, we're just scratching around.
Jake whether all again failed today, so he'll come under
the microscope. I think he'll survive for the next Test.
But yeah, there's a bit happening with the batting. But
our bowling, yeah, no problem at all. And Niece is
basically an all rounder as well. He can bat well.

Speaker 2 (01:16:32):
I think he tops gorgeous that I didn't he so
he had a pretty good day out on day one.
So though four hundred and nineteen first class wickets and
he's only he's only played three tea smetches, that's an
incredible body of work from him.

Speaker 9 (01:16:45):
Yeah, yeah, he's and he's just he loves playing for Queensland.
He plays up the gap. But they used him at
the Gabba so well because he knew the condition so well.
A couple of big court and bowls that really turned
the match in Australia's favorite there. So yeah, he's he's
just your prototypical hard in the Australian first class cricketer
that's ready for a chance when he gets it all right.

Speaker 2 (01:17:05):
I think it's he might just have lost a third wicket,
I think Marnus Lubb of Shane, I think they're checking
them looking. Yeah, I'm looking at the screen. You might
have had a sad yeah, yeah, no he is. He's
walking off and he is not very pleased at all,
Manus Luba Shane. He doesn't like getting out but a
wicket for England, so three for sixty one, one hundred
and three year heads. I don't know what would England
be comfortable chasing. It's a terrible question to ask, I know,

(01:17:28):
but what might what might they chase?

Speaker 9 (01:17:32):
Two hundreds that? I mean they're down about her as well,
because Gus Atkinson told his hammy and he's been actually
pretty good with the bat, so we'll wait and see.
So Manus is gone up about the fact that it carried.
But if he's walking off, he's walking off. So yeah,
he's gone. Yeah, so for two hundred. I wouldn't be
too confident of anything over two hundred for England, but

(01:17:54):
you never.

Speaker 2 (01:17:54):
Know, You never know, all right, hey, and thanks for
taking time out of your date the g to have
a chat to us. I'm always appreciate your time. Thanks
for a great year as well, mat Hopefully we can
call on you in twenty twenty six for more from
across the TWA sounds good.

Speaker 9 (01:18:07):
Fine, cheers mate, best mate.

Speaker 2 (01:18:11):
Yeah, it was great, thanks mate, all the best of you.
Adam Peacock there our Australian correspondent here on Weekend Sports.
So as we were chatting, Marnus lava Shane Court at
first slip, he didn't think it carried, that was what
he was blowing up deluxe about. But the third umpire
has had a look at it and said, yes, that
ball has carried to Joe Root at first slip. You're
out Marnus Lava Shane for eight off the bowling of

(01:18:34):
Josh Tungue Court Root bowl Tongue for eight and Australia
sixty one for three. Now one of the three wickets
of Scotti Bowland, who, as we just mentioned, was out
there as night watchmen. So it's not as though they've
knocked over three from the top order, but three down
seven to get Australia lead by one hundred and three. Honestly,
this game could finish today. It could. It would not

(01:18:56):
be beyond the realms of possibility that this game finishes today.
Look at what happened in Perth. Well, only what have
we had. We've had about an hour and twenty minutes
on Day two. Australia have lost three wickets in that time.
Steve Smith has come out to join Travis Head. Even
if they were all out, let's just say, for argument's sake,
for one hundred and fifty, that's ninety more runs, that's

(01:19:18):
one hundred and ninety three. England will have to chase.
The way England are playing in this series. That is
by no means a foregone conclusion. So you will keep
eyes on it for you this time tomorrow. Would I
be confident the Test cricket is still being played at
Melbourne Cricket Ground. Not supremely confident. I hope that it is,
but I wouldn't be supremely confident about that. Just to

(01:19:38):
quick check on the women's Super Smash and parmest North
the Wellington Blaze batting first against the Hines after winning
the toss and electing to bat first, one hundred and
eighteen for five, so the slide up just a little bit.
They're in the eighteenth over. Zara Jentley and Hannah Francis
are out there together. Best of the bowlers for the Hindes.
Claudia Green two for twenty and two. Pretty big wickets

(01:20:01):
to Melly Kerr and Jess Curse. You got the cursisters
out that Claudia Green, So a pretty impressive and important
bowling performance from her four overs two for twenty seven
minutes away from two. Here on News Talk's.

Speaker 1 (01:20:15):
EDB analyzing every view from every angle in the sporting
world weekends for it with Jason Pie they call eight
hundred and eighty ten eighty News Talks eNB.

Speaker 2 (01:20:25):
Four to two. Just looking at Manas Laba Shane's numbers
in the ashes, he got fifty one not out in
the first Test and sixty five in the second of Brisbane.
But take those two scores out nine three, nineteen thirteen
six and eight for Marnas Laver Shane. Just the one
hundred and seventy four runs in those eight innings, not
even an average of twenty five. He'll be fine for
the next Test up. I'll probably keep the same side,

(01:20:46):
won't they. After two o'clock we're going to look at
the history of Test cricket. Yeah, it seems like a
big job, doesn't it. Tim Wigmore has written the first
definitive narrative of Test cricket. It's simply called Test Cricket
a History. He's an English author, award winning cricket journalist.
Tim Wigmore After two and also Darts with Ben francis.

Speaker 1 (01:21:10):
The only place to discuss the biggest sports issues on
and after field.

Speaker 4 (01:21:15):
It's all on Weekends Forward with Jason Vaide on your
home of Sports.

Speaker 7 (01:21:23):
Two seven.

Speaker 2 (01:21:24):
Welcome into Weekends Sport. Welcome back to Weekend Sport. Great
to have you with us. Another hour and then it's
Max Toll Summer Weekends from three onwards. Before we hand
the micover. Quite a bit to get through, actually, Tim Wigmore,
award winning cricket journalist and author, has written the History
of Test cricket. Goodness, gracious me, how did he decide
what to leave in and what to take out? He's

(01:21:45):
with us shortly we'll look ahead to the third round
of the World Dance Championships with our darts analyst Ben
Francis and go stateside with Leon Buzzby lots of American
sports to talk about NBA, college football and the NFL.
So we'll get to Leon Busby before three o'clock as
well and keep eyes on everything that's happening in terms

(01:22:07):
of live sport in Parmeerston North and also at the
MCG with a super Smash Cricket and Ashes Test Cricket.
But as we always do at around about this time
on weekend sport and today is no exception, time to
catch you up with some of the things you might
have missed. As mentioned last how the Breakers have snapped
their three game losing streak in basketball's an bl with

(01:22:28):
an overtime win over mid table rivals Tasmania. With eight
seconds left in overtime, the Breakers led by three.

Speaker 3 (01:22:36):
Hamilton'll get a good love at Johnson Potson. It's no good,
It's hell stay with Tazzy. I shall betreve Oh God
that name put it in. Makes it a one point
game and the New Zealand Breakers will come away with
a critical.

Speaker 2 (01:22:53):
Victory to their season eighty one eighty. The final score
A fifty ball century from Sam Harper has led the
Melbourne Stars to a seven wicket win over the Sydney
Sixers in Crickets Big Bash.

Speaker 4 (01:23:07):
Half of miscues.

Speaker 3 (01:23:09):
It's over the top, it's down of the boundary.

Speaker 2 (01:23:12):
It is the innings of his lifetime. Sam Harper celebrate
seve hundred. Sam Harper finishing unbeaten on one hundred and
ten from sixty balls as the Stars reached their target
of one forty five with two and a half overs
to spare at the SCG. A crazy Boxing Day fixture
in Football's A Leagues Men's competition between Newcastle and MacArthur.

Speaker 3 (01:23:35):
Play on here for the Bulls.

Speaker 7 (01:23:37):
Vickery, Vickery to we it.

Speaker 4 (01:23:40):
He's done it.

Speaker 7 (01:23:41):
In the last minutes.

Speaker 3 (01:23:43):
Luke Vickery has won an A League Classic.

Speaker 2 (01:23:46):
For the Balls, a ninety six minute goal from Luke
Vickery helping MacArthur clinch a five to four win over
the Jets in Newcastle. And in the Premier League this morning,
Manchester United up to fifth after a one nill home
win over Newcastle. The game's only goal was a cracker
after twenty four minutes.

Speaker 21 (01:24:07):
What's got done is t trick Taljo who's never scored
from Manchessea United, and he may never score a fattest
strike than us.

Speaker 1 (01:24:21):
The voice of Sport on your Home of Sport, Weekend
Sport with Jason Van News TALKSB.

Speaker 2 (01:24:27):
News TALKSB and Weekend Sport. Test Cricket is on the
cusp of its one hundred and fiftieth anniversary. Award winning
author Tim Wigmore has written the first narrative history of
Test cricket. Test Cricket a History details the players and
stories that have shaped the game's evolution since eighteen seventy seven.

(01:24:49):
It draws on dozens of exclusive interviews with the game's
greatest players, including such Intendalka, Pat Cummens, Michael Holding, Muttia,
Maro Lutheran, Kevin Peterson, Ian Chappel, Dale Stain, and Rahul Dravid.
The book brings to life both Test cricket on the
pitch and the game's so social significance around the world
and in the week past. It was named as a

(01:25:10):
Mail On Sunday Sports Book of the Year. Tim Wigmore
is with us, Tim congratulations on the book. It's a
monumental undertaking, no doubt, a labor of love and a
magnificent result. The current Boxing Day Test between Australia and
England is Test number two thousand, six hundred and fifteen,

(01:25:31):
stretching back over one hundred and forty eight years to
Test number one in Melbourne in March of eighteen seventy seven.
That is a heck of a lot of test cricket.
How did you decide what to focus on, what to
leave in and as importantly what to leave out?

Speaker 12 (01:25:48):
Yeah, thanks so much for having me, Jason.

Speaker 17 (01:25:50):
Yeah, so I was thinking about sort of what were
the big things in a story sense, which means you know,
there's you know, probably thousand much I don't actually cover
at all, but it's.

Speaker 12 (01:25:59):
Not about it.

Speaker 17 (01:25:59):
It's so it's sort of going through and then where
the ras in talking about what are the main characters
at that moment. So you have obviously like things like
when the West Innings are the best team in the world,
that's obviously that dominates the story.

Speaker 12 (01:26:10):
New Zealand in that case.

Speaker 17 (01:26:11):
Actually there's period where don't recover New Zeine and then
I cover them in the context of you know, so
the early they start and how they how they become
a Test team, and then Richard Hadley of course and
the kind of the eighties are the great all round
and then their path to be the first World Test
Champions rexample. So it's it was sort of looking at
what are the periods when when the team is really

(01:26:32):
influential and they are really central to central to the story. Obviously,
I just didn't want to get bogged down in one
hundred and hundreds of matches and saying this happened, this happened.
So I've kind of gone almost gone a bit deeper
on less stuff. I guess it's probably how I describe it.
So to try and get a sense of the like
the characters and actually be able to be able to talk,
you know, in depth to guards like you know, Laura

(01:26:54):
Tendrgan so on about their craft was such an interesting
thing to do. So I've tried to kind of let
their stories shine through, and I guess inevitably there's some
great players that I just don't really cover because you
kind of concover everything, and if you're i'k. Cover everything,
you end up just having one buddy thing off another,
as they say, rather than having a story.

Speaker 2 (01:27:11):
Indeed, well, I want to take you to chapter thirty
three New Zealand's moment detailing out win of the World
Test Championship. The chapter starts with Brenda McCallum's first day
as Test captain, bowled out for forty five by South
Africa in Cape Town in January twenty thirteen, and the
chapter ends with Ross Taylor waking up still in his

(01:27:32):
whites the morning after the victory over India in the
final eight years later. How significant a time in New
Zealand Test cricket history was.

Speaker 12 (01:27:42):
That now, it was very significant.

Speaker 17 (01:27:44):
So I think to sort of win'm back in Zoom
Battles was in in the eighties with Richard Hada, Martin Crow.
They are a very strong team, probably the third best
in the world in that period after Wessineisan Pakistan. Other
than that is in had been pretty competitive at times.
But actually, you know, because it's any sort of six
seventh eighth in terms of the Test rankings, and so

(01:28:06):
what we see really from twenty thirteen we see this great,
great turnaround and I think it's a combination. It's it's interesting,
it's a combination of kind of leadership and great players
coming through.

Speaker 12 (01:28:15):
Is also a combination of a system.

Speaker 17 (01:28:17):
So you look at West Indies, which obviously who obviously
were way more successful than New Zealand, you know historically
and how they've struggled to manage like the modern climate
of cricket with franchise leagues and clubby country and making
sure you have your your best best players when you
need them. And actually New Zealand have done that really
really well. And they've had things like you know, their
eighteen programs being really robust, so you've you've kind of

(01:28:40):
had a sense of the next cabs off the rank
and there's that kind of journey there. And actually just
what use to do very well is they the whole
system is governed towards the national team, so you you know,
with them the lstest championship team. For example, BJ Watling was
earlier playing for Thorn Districts as an opener and not

(01:29:01):
keeping wicket and Mike Hessen Venue doing coach. He calls
up and the Coachural Districts and says, actually we want
what link to be our keeper? So can he back
down the order and keep So you have that complete
coherence and you don't necessarily have that from other other countries.
So I think New Zealand of what they've done really
well is have the whole system that funnels through to
what's best for the national team. And again it's like, yeah,

(01:29:22):
we're kind of in an era where people do worry
that the trophies are going to be hoovered up by Australia, England, India,
you know, because they're the richest, they're the most resources.
So for New Zealand to win the first Worltich Championship
I think was really important for the Test game as
a whole. And we've now actually had two of the
three World Test champions in New Zealand and South Africa
who just won a couple of months ago at Lord's.
They'd be outside the Big three, which I think is

(01:29:43):
really good for the Test game. So I mean, test
cricket really to survive and be viran, it needs, you know,
it needs six, seven, eight strong teams, not just three
strong teams.

Speaker 12 (01:29:54):
And New Zealand of have actually shown what is possible.

Speaker 2 (01:29:57):
From a wider sceints. How do you evaluate the evolution
of New Zealand's tass cricket history from our very first
tist matures in nineteen thirty to the prison day.

Speaker 17 (01:30:08):
So one of the really interesting things kind of zooming
out was actually early New Zealand because it was basically
an amateur setup. So New Zealand would again and again
lose their best players. So often you get these tours
to England, which is almost like a kind of beauty
contest to try and actually get a pro contract in England.
If you did that, you would then not be picked.

(01:30:29):
You would then that would then be your career and
you wouldn't play for New Zealand. And so actually, you know,
guys like Stuey Dempster, Martin Donnelly, some fantastic early crickets
that New Zealand produced, actually barely played for New Zealand
and Test cricket, which is one of their real issues
and a kind of role reverse what happened we talked
about West Indy's now is trying to get their best
team on the babble. Actually, historically, you know, sort of

(01:30:50):
nineteen thirty, ninety fifty, West Scenes were a bit more sensible,
you know, so occasionally they would allow players to miss
matches for West Indies knowing that they were still have
them most of the time. And New Zealand were actually
had this sort of rigid policy where they were very inflexible,
son up losing a lot of talent a lot of
their best players played very little for them, So that
was what that was I thing that held news Inland back,

(01:31:11):
I think, and I suppose that the kind of the
big shift really from about thousand and two you get
kind of you get professionals in domestic cricket, and so
you actually have a system where therefore the domestic game
really strengthens, and you also have I mean that the
pitchers have been a really big change in domestic cricket
as well. So there used to be these green tops

(01:31:33):
which it sometimes would catch visiting teams on the fly,
but they wouldn't really prepare players for the flat because
you often do get in test cricket. And so the
pitchers have really improved in his in domestic cricket. They've
made a big emhsis on that and that actually means
that when players go into tech test cricket, of course
there's always going to be a step up, but that
step up is more manageable than that has been for
a long time in the past.

Speaker 2 (01:31:52):
Now at least I've missed it. You have rather kindly
lift out the twenty six all out we managed against
England in nineteen fifty five, still the lowest completed tist
and thing seventy years later. We got quite excited earlier
this year when Studies were twenty six for nine against Australia,
but they eked out one more run. Do you think
anyone will ever take that and want a record from us?

Speaker 17 (01:32:16):
Well, there's been a frozen Barbie test recently. We thought
there was a half a chance, but they haven't really
haven't really threatened that. It's one of those things. It's
amazing how these records kind of enjure. I mean, one
of the pros of all is Charles Bannon. The very
very first Test innings in history. He gets the harghest
proportion of runs for an individual batsman in that their

(01:32:37):
team innings five percent of Australia runs and that that
record has still not been toppled to this day. So
it's amazing how long these things can endure, he said,
He said over to an a half thousand tests. No, it
would be pretty you need something pretty special to not
to beat it, but to go under it. Yeah, we
sin these is that test in Jamaica. Yeah, they threatened,
but yeah, it might be one of those that you

(01:32:58):
don't have to kind of suck it up for a farewell.

Speaker 2 (01:33:02):
Yeah, no problem, no problem. In many ways, it's a
bit of a badge for us. It'll be a sham
of it, the ever lift. It's always difficult, I know,
to compare across eras and we're talking one hundred and
fifty years of TIAS cricket here, But who are the
candidates for the greatest team in TIAS cricket history.

Speaker 17 (01:33:21):
So I think there's I mean that there's two that
stand out, So I guess just to expect, I think
until nineteen fifty, you don't like most Test cricket really
has Ingler's one of England eighty percent of the Test,
so most Test cricket is really England against someone else.
There's almost actually don't really get teams having to you know,
play multiple countries and stuff. So you've really got to
start evaluating from the fifties. I mean the two sort

(01:33:44):
of obvious ones that stand out. So you have the
great West Indies team from nineteen eighty to ninety five
who you don't don't lose a series in that period.

Speaker 12 (01:33:51):
Of course, the first series they do lose.

Speaker 17 (01:33:53):
The eighties series that they do lose is in New Zealand,
famously to be venues in do give a pretty good
crack to against We're sinnings in the eighties, so yeah,
that was Cindy's team. And then the Australia team ninety
five to os Evan obviously have you know, you have
the Walls, you have warl and McGrath, you know Gilchrist,
it's an incredible team. So yeah, those two probably stand out.

(01:34:16):
And then I think the in the Pakistan team in
the eighties is a very very good side. The soth
Africa side of the sort of around twenty ten is
that you know, they go thirty series without losing away
from home, which is an unbelievable effort. So they would
they're they're kind of not too far from the mix.
But I actually think of the teams just at home,

(01:34:37):
the recent India team would would actually probably be the
very best in history. So they want eighteen series in
a row, which is you know, far better than any
of the Australia was Indies teams managed, which actually yeah,
again just shows how incredible that that you know, that
black Caps whitewash was of India, just an incredible result,
you know, one of as a series win actually one

(01:34:57):
of the most unlikely in test history.

Speaker 12 (01:34:58):
You'd have to say.

Speaker 2 (01:34:59):
Indeed, and Dad in the intro to the book, term
you write taste crickets enduring appeal a tist to a ritness, richness, complexity,
and capacity to generate simmering, slow burning drama. I love
that line, and I think it's what appeals to me
about test cricket here of the other formats, that it's
a slow burner sometimes. Is it also, though, one of

(01:35:21):
the things that makes it hard to attract new fans
to test cricket.

Speaker 17 (01:35:26):
Yeah, I think that's a weird element that a lot
of Test cricket fans they kind of like the idea
this is a kind of a bit of a strange,
a strange club and kind of not everyone can get it,
and that's almost part of their part of its appeal
to people, which is a bit of an odd thing
to say, but I think there is something in that.

Speaker 12 (01:35:43):
So the Test tricket over time, I.

Speaker 17 (01:35:45):
Think research in the book, I kind of hadn't realized
how much it has evolved. It's like we think of
it as this kind of thing that someone's remained the same,
but actually just that's just not true at all. You know,
we until you know, World War two, we I think
only had ten to five day tests in history, so
most you know, England would play three or four day
tests at home and then a time it's one. If
it was the series was level in the last Test Australia,

(01:36:06):
every Test would be timeless. Obviously, when New Zealand come
to England forty nine, I think the three day three
day matches and it's a new Zeumminster draw and you
know they draw that very well, but it gives them
obviously gives you more scope to draw, so it's it's yeah,
so test rek it has really constantly evolved over time
in this Yeah, it's sort of quite sort of slow

(01:36:27):
burning way, but things like you know, the end of
uncovered wickets. Helmet's actually from playing point of view is
one of the biggest I talked with Ian Chappel about
because he was one of the guys who played with helmet,
without helmets and then with helmets. And you have all
these fast bowls in the seventies, which is basically makes
helmets absolutely essential. The number of balls and overs between
being between four and four and eight. You obviously have

(01:36:49):
day night Test now and in the World's Championship, WORLDTIS Championships,
I think is a really important innovation as well, so
that that is part of the reason why testket has survived.
But also I think it's always kind of existed as
this this strange concept that's almost out of kilter with
the modern world, and in an odd way, that's actually
kind of part of its appeal because people like the
sense it's to release, and people like the thing it's

(01:37:11):
the fact is a kind of constant, it's a kind
of backdrop, and it is an odd game that you
you know a lot of people who are obsessive followers
of it. You're not going to watch every board because
you know, real life gets in ther way, right, So
you kind of follow it and then you kind of
pick your moments to go deep in it. And I
think that is is a curious thing, but that's also
part of it's appealed as well. People like that that

(01:37:32):
they can they can kind of dip in an out,
and then suddenly when it's a really important moment, they
kind of go all in a but I think there's
also a sense that you kind of need some of
the boring moments for the payoff of the really excising moment.

Speaker 12 (01:37:43):
So it's all part of part of this package. I
think that in an odd way.

Speaker 17 (01:37:48):
Yeah, I think that, so that there's this sort of
epic and I think the other aspects. You can enjoy
it on different levels. You can enjoy it from esthetic
levels in terms of the shots. You can enjoy it
on a kind of human interest story in terms of
the stories and the kind of desire of a players
and everything. And you can enjoy it on a kind
of numerical level in terms of the stats. So that
there's different ways to appreciate the games. I think is
also quite special about it.

Speaker 2 (01:38:09):
So you've written the history of tast cricket term, what
do you predict for its future?

Speaker 12 (01:38:15):
So I mean, look at the history.

Speaker 17 (01:38:16):
It's amazing how long people have worried about the future
of Test cricket four. So the first reference I could
find is basically, the game's gone. It's not as good
as it used to be. The players they all play
for money, not for the badge on the shirt now
is eighteen eighty four. So like, yeah, so the kind
of worrying about it is while I'm into it, which
does kind of actually make me more optimistic because like,

(01:38:37):
it has endured for a reason. I think now that
the key thing is to basically to share the money
around more to make windows when there is only you
just have tech test cricket, have maybe two or three
months a year when you just have test test cricket
and you have you know, maybe four or five tests
at the same time in different countries. And to make

(01:38:58):
the Watter Championship actually just easier to understand. It's so
complicated with the percentage of points contested. It sort of
gives me a headache just to think about. So you
need to have a system where you have three points
for a win, a point for a draw, and everyone
plays the same number of games.

Speaker 12 (01:39:12):
And so what I kind of outline I suggest.

Speaker 17 (01:39:15):
I think there's a case now for four day test matches,
which I think I think when teams like New Zealand
so New Zuom plays in Africa, I think that would
be better as three tests of four days each than
two or five days each.

Speaker 12 (01:39:26):
So I think that is that is something.

Speaker 17 (01:39:28):
But and you could that could actually help teams to
play more test matches because that you know, you wouldn't
need more days. You'd be freeing off these extra days
and then you have a simple league league table and
actually the Waters Championship has been great in terms of
the knockout element, so you could have semi finals and
a final stage, not just the final stage again creating
just these more more drama, because I think there's something

(01:39:49):
about it's finally yet one hundred hunred, almost hundred and
fifty years, we're kind of trying a new thing that
which is knockout Test cricket, and it's and we haven't
tried it before and it's absolutely absolutely great, So that's
something I'd like to see more of going forward term.

Speaker 2 (01:40:01):
Congratulations on this book. It's an incredible undertaking and an
absolutely terrific are no. Fans of the longer format will
absolutely love it. Congratulations on it, mate, and thanks for
joining us across New Zealand today.

Speaker 12 (01:40:13):
Thanks so much.

Speaker 2 (01:40:14):
Really enjoyed it. No enjoy it too, Tim, Thanks and
a Tim Wigmore, author of Test Cricket History, available right
now to twenty six. Take a break. When we come back,
it's Darts with Ben Francis.

Speaker 1 (01:40:26):
The Big Issues on and After Field Call eight hundred
eighty ten eighty Weekends Forward with Jason.

Speaker 4 (01:40:32):
Fine and GJ.

Speaker 1 (01:40:33):
Gunderholmes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder News Talk to Baby.

Speaker 2 (01:40:38):
Two twenty nine. The last thirty two have been found
at the World Dance Championship in London. Unfortunately, though, Allie
Pelly heartbreak for Kiwi number one Johnny Tarta.

Speaker 6 (01:40:49):
Cricket great art.

Speaker 4 (01:40:53):
John comes by crypto sacks down.

Speaker 7 (01:40:56):
But you say that Johnny Tarta, I bet really well.

Speaker 8 (01:40:59):
It's a case that went boats a p.

Speaker 2 (01:41:01):
Johnny Tata went down in five sets to Englishman Ryan
Meekl in their second round clash after leading two sets
to love. He would have been the first key we
ever to advance to the third round. Our darts expert
Ben Francis Joins has been how gutted will Johnny Tarta
be that he led a two sets to love advantage
slip in the second round?

Speaker 9 (01:41:23):
Yeah?

Speaker 7 (01:41:23):
Good, a piney look. I think definitely going to be.

Speaker 22 (01:41:25):
Disappointed because it's definitely an opportunity one that got away.

Speaker 7 (01:41:29):
As he said Ben, two sets.

Speaker 22 (01:41:31):
Up was a great opportunity, and he looked pretty decent
heading into that third set as well, but just some
of those missed opportunities at the doubles, some of the
set up player as well just started to elude him.
Because he made such a great start and a big
reason why he got off to a good start. Was
as I just touched on, was the set up place
so that were quite often here had hit a good

(01:41:52):
score like a one eighty or one forty to kind
of leave a finish and that will put Ryan Meekl
under pressure. He missed and Johnny capitalized. But as the
game kind of progressed, those opportunities started fading.

Speaker 7 (01:42:03):
He wasn't hitting the scores as well.

Speaker 22 (01:42:05):
I don't want to say it was placency that probably
played a part, but there could have been an element
of that because you are up to nil, you're playing
great here at nine one eighties in the game pinty,
and that was probably one of the more incredible things,
was just how accurate he was being. But it definitely
wasn't missed opportunity for Johnny. But I think overall he
should be very pleased with how far he's come in
the last eighteen months. You know, you think back to

(01:42:27):
the twenty twenty three New Zealand Darts Masters that was
his first time playing on TV and now he's New Zealand's.

Speaker 7 (01:42:32):
Top player, number one player.

Speaker 22 (01:42:34):
So I think he's come a long way and he's
definitely going to be better for the experience.

Speaker 2 (01:42:37):
Just before we move on from Johnny, is there any
any chance that the occasion just got a bit too
big for him? He seems so calm all the time.
Even after the game, he looked calm. Do you think
the occasion in any way might have overwhelmed him?

Speaker 22 (01:42:51):
You try, obviously, you try not think about those sort
of things, but I mean it's easier to than done sometimes, right.
I think there could have been an album to that.
But I also saw that the head honcho, Barry Hearn
was there, so I think if it was me, I
would have been pretty nervous knowing the king King Hearn
was there, But there could have been elements of that.
You know, a guy like Ryan who's been on the
tour for quite a few years, a few more experiences

(01:43:14):
up on a stage like that, You know, it all
plays a big part in it. But yeah, I think
he's going to be better for the experience, and I
think that's the positive we can take from it.

Speaker 2 (01:43:23):
Okay, the top five seeds all safely through Luke Littler,
Luke Humphreys, Michael Van Gerwin, Stephen Bunting, Johnny Clayton. How
warm a favorite is Luke Littler.

Speaker 22 (01:43:33):
I mean been the defending champion, being the guy that's
dominated for most of the year, he is going to
be the favorite to defend the title. I think the
last player of those who go back to back off
the top of my head was Gary Anderson, so and
it has been a while between drinks since someone has
done that, so it is going to be a little.

Speaker 7 (01:43:49):
Bit of history if he is to do it.

Speaker 22 (01:43:52):
As I touched on last week, Piney was that girlwin
Price was probably going to be that main guy that
was going to be a big contender for him, but
girl and Price lost in the second round, which was
quite an upset in terms of the.

Speaker 7 (01:44:02):
Manner of the way he lost.

Speaker 22 (01:44:04):
So that's that sexual The drawer has really opened up
for Luke Leitlers, so it's going to be very interesting
to see how he manages the rest of the games.

Speaker 7 (01:44:12):
He's played a guy meant to Stovich in the route
that's starting tonight, and.

Speaker 22 (01:44:18):
He's a bit of a tricky customer, so it's going
to be interesting to see how he handles that. Just
because of the way Mentor throws, the time he actually
takes to throw. A part of that is because of
his history with a thing called dart itis, which is
like the yips and golf. He has to get the
dart perfectly and his hands so he can throw it.
So there's a little couple of quirks there with mental
which makes them a bit difficult.

Speaker 7 (01:44:38):
But it's all right. He should manage to get through
that relatively easy.

Speaker 22 (01:44:42):
But I would expect he's got a pretty clear right
now that Girl Price is.

Speaker 2 (01:44:45):
Gone, and as Luke Humphries his most likely challenger.

Speaker 22 (01:44:49):
You'd say yes, but there are a couple of guys
in that section of the draw with Luke Humphreys.

Speaker 7 (01:44:57):
That have kind of got a good record against them.

Speaker 22 (01:45:00):
I think one guy I've touched on before as a
young Dutchman by the man of Young Vanveen.

Speaker 7 (01:45:05):
Who's a very good up and coming player.

Speaker 22 (01:45:08):
He's had a pretty good record over Louke Humphreys in
recent memories, so if they were to clash, that probably
would be a game where he could get upset. But
I think the way everything's tracking it, it was going
to be a battle of the two looks, and rightfully so,
because of the two best players in the world.

Speaker 2 (01:45:24):
We lost four of the top nine seeds, the top
five all safely through, but Danny knopp At, James Wade,
Chris Doby and Gerwin Price. As you mentioned, seeds six, seven,
eight nine all eliminated. Was Price the biggest surprise and
what about the other three?

Speaker 22 (01:45:38):
I think Danny Knopf it was a bit of a
surprise actually because that was the section of the draw
that Johnny Tata was on as well, So I think
had Johnny wy it probably would have opened up for
him quite a bit and they could have had the
prospect of going further. But Danny's been quietly tugging along.
He's never done that well of the World Champs though,
which is an interesting thing in the player that he
lost to Justin Hood as a ralse living new.

Speaker 7 (01:45:59):
Player, not really well known in major darting circles, and
that was definitely the big one of his life.

Speaker 22 (01:46:04):
But I think in terms of probably an overall performance
and the way going Price lost, and I think that
probably was I would say probably the biggest surprise out
of though that little chunk there in terms of the
seated players losing in the second round.

Speaker 2 (01:46:16):
If you look at the player still remaining ben any
dark horses, not necessarily to win it, but to go
further than many would have expected.

Speaker 22 (01:46:25):
I mean, it's always it's always tricky with a question
like that, because I think you can make a case
for lots of these players, you know, going further than
they are, and I think you have to look at
some of those sections of the drawers that I say
have opened up a little bit. Should Nathan Aspinal when
I think he will face Luke Humphries, And Nathan Aspinal
is a two time semi finalist at the World Champs,
so he's going to you know, be a true customer

(01:46:47):
should he face Luke Humphries. Is the young guy, Charlie Mamby,
who has been very impressive, and look, he's got the
capability of you know, causing a couple more upsets and
going on a bit.

Speaker 7 (01:46:55):
Of a run with his section of the draw as well.

Speaker 22 (01:46:57):
So those are probably two guys and Van Been as
well as another one who up until this year hadn't
had a lot of success at the World Champs. But
the way he's playing at the moment, he's probably I
would say probably the next I'd probably rank them. In
terms of the third player, I would think we should
be favorite to win the tournament as it stands, but look,
you can never count out guys as well, like Michael
van Girl and Gary Anderson, these guys that have been there,

(01:47:18):
done it, and are definitely capable of playing in those
big stages in this big games.

Speaker 2 (01:47:23):
And how much does the quality of the darts typically
ramp up after Christmas? Where we've got the you know,
the the last thirty two. I think we're four sets,
aren't we? Or sorry, first to four best of seven
for this round anyway, how much does the quality of
the darts typically ramp up after Christmas?

Speaker 7 (01:47:41):
Yeah, it usually ramps up quite a bit.

Speaker 22 (01:47:42):
Piiney. I think, like I said to you last week
that in terms of those opening rounds, in terms of
like the stories are these guys that we haven't really
heard of that upset these pro players, Guys you know
like Johnny Taza for example, a Kyi guy that not
many people would know, but he goes and be to
see the player. Those kind of like the stories that
we like to see in the opening rounds, and as
a tournament progresses, when we really see the cream of

(01:48:02):
the crop come out, show their their skills and put
up these biggure bridges, take out these clutch finishers and
stuff like that. So I definitely expect that it's definitely
going to be ramping up and with the prize.

Speaker 7 (01:48:14):
Money as well.

Speaker 22 (01:48:15):
The way it is now and what it could mean
to some players in terms of ranking at opportunities, it's
only going to get it's only going to get really tensified.

Speaker 2 (01:48:24):
Yeah, I can't wait for the third round and beyond
first matches our overnight tonight, New Zealand time, Ben, thank
you for taking time from your trout fishing on Lake
Top or are they biting?

Speaker 18 (01:48:34):
Yeah?

Speaker 22 (01:48:34):
Of course you hooks for today so far Finny Court
keeps three so definitely going to be eating dinners and ice.

Speaker 7 (01:48:42):
So it's been a grace warning us on the lake.

Speaker 2 (01:48:44):
Wonderful stuff, mate, Thanks for joining us. We'll hopefully chat
again next weekend. Chess bindy, thank you mate. That has
been Francis from Lake topor Darts corresponded. So into the
third round the last thirty two starting overnight tonight lunch
at the mcg Australian ninety eight for six, ninety eight
for six, a leader of one hundred and forty with
four second innings wickets in hand. This game could finish today,

(01:49:08):
It really could. Two fault sessions to go at least
take a break. When we come back for the last
time in twenty twenty five, we go state side Leon Busby,
our American sports expert.

Speaker 1 (01:49:18):
Right after this one crunch Hold engaged Weekend Sports with
Jason Hym and GJ. Gunnerhomes New Zealand's first trusted Oemlder
News talk to Bailey.

Speaker 2 (01:49:29):
Coming up nineteen away from three for the final time
in twenty twenty five, Let's take your state side. Our
American sports expert, Leon Busby is here.

Speaker 7 (01:49:37):
Leon.

Speaker 2 (01:49:38):
I want to talk some college football and NFL with you.
Can we start with the NBA though and the NBA Cup. Now,
this is the in season tournament. Have I got that right?

Speaker 19 (01:49:48):
Yeah?

Speaker 15 (01:49:48):
You right? Be a pony serves. Ten days ago, the
New York Knicks they won their first piece of silverwear
for the first time in the fifty two years when
they defeated the Senate Tournio Spurs one hundred and twenty
four one hundred and thirty.

Speaker 7 (01:50:00):
In Las Vegas.

Speaker 15 (01:50:01):
They're lifted the NBA Cup bid by Starwood Galen Brunson,
who was named I guess expectedly took them an MVP. Now,
the last time I was on I mentioned the great
Kobe Bryant and how he spoke passionately, how the only
banners that should be hanging from the raft the rafters
are those that celebrated championships said, Thankfully, the Knicks have

(01:50:21):
adopted that same attitude, and despite pusher from the NBA
head office, they will not be hanging a cup bender,
which I personally agree with. I don't like to La
Lakers and Milwaukee Bucky churs to hang a ban, which
I feel is not a good look. Finy, No, you.

Speaker 2 (01:50:34):
Just you hang it for the main championship, Leon, I
totally agree with you. I totally agree with you. We'll
let him look where we are what to be. It's
an eighty two game regular season. We're sort of thirty
games in or so, so I guess just over a
third urge leading the standings in the East and the West.

Speaker 15 (01:50:50):
Yes, so as you are lunat you knew in the
halfway stage of the regular season in the East, leading
the standings of the Detroit Pistons, the Knicks, the Boston Celtics,
the Toronto Raptors, and the Philadelphia seventy six is rounding
up the top five. Now out on the West of
defending champion Okay's Thunder lead the league with the twenty
six and five records, followed by the Spurs, the Denver Nuggets,

(01:51:12):
the Lakers, and the Minnesota Timberwolf.

Speaker 2 (01:51:15):
Are there any big names on the trade block?

Speaker 15 (01:51:19):
Yes? In terms of trade news, is really only a
couple of names on the lips of fans. Janis Kompo
from the Bucks and Anthony Davis from the Dallas Mavericks.
Now the Greek Freak and Ada dominating trade roomors with
the NBA trade deadline moving on February five. Both the
league players are one time NBA champions, while Giannis there's

(01:51:39):
also a two time league MVP, so they won't come cheap.
So there's a lot of speculation where they may land,
especially as openly said that New York would be his
preferred option. If indeed he does ships, they will cently
be keeping eyes on that pony.

Speaker 2 (01:51:55):
Is it too early to start having an MVP conversation
or of those discussions are started, I guess fans will
be starting to talk about who might be in that
MVP conversation.

Speaker 15 (01:52:06):
Yeah, so it's never two billion. If you look at
the MVP letter, it hasn't really changed in recent months
with the usual suspect with the Joker ANDHGA are the
too clear? I guess they're in a two horse race
at the moment for the award, with Luca Donte to
the Lakers, Kate Cunningham of the Pitstons, and Brunton of
the Knicks rounding out the top five. They just in cash,
your listeners are unaware, Pony. To be eligible for the

(01:52:29):
MVP Award, you have to play a minimum of sixty
five games in the regular season. As you alluded to,
it's eighty two regular season games, so you have to
play at least sixty five games to be considered for
that award. All right, yeah, sorry, care on.

Speaker 2 (01:52:43):
Pony, No, it's just going to ask. I mean, I
know there's betting markets out for favorites to win the
NBA and to win the MVP Awards, So what are
they telling us?

Speaker 15 (01:52:52):
Yes, so at the moment, like you look at SGA, right,
I mean, he won the award last year. He led
his team to the TV to say he's on an
unbelievable chair right now. The Canadian has ninety four This
is crazy, ninety four straight games with at least twenty
points sticking all time, only to you might have to
the sky Will Chamberlain, who's one hundred and twenty six.

(01:53:12):
So by comparison, Lebron James bearstreak is forty nine and
Steph Curry's is twenty three. So however, Jokis is still
doing Yokis things, creating history most nights. The Stubian Superstar
yesterday recorded as fifteenth triple double from thirty games this year,
dropping fifty six points, sixteen boards, and fifteen assists and

(01:53:33):
a three and overtime one thirty eight win over the Timberwolves.
Done the process, the three time MVP also break a
record set by Steph Curry in twenty sixteen by scoring
eighteen points in overtime, and to top it off, created
NBA history again by becoming the first players had at
least fifty five fifteen and fifteen and a triple double. Currently,

(01:53:56):
he's the only active player averaging a triple double and
remains on a higher all round offensive plan. They just
about everyone else and no remember alone Jokis averaged thirty
two to eleven and eleven. It's quite remarkable what he's doing. Pony,
and for most party just strikes it off and always
focuses as postmatch comments on the team to craz.

Speaker 2 (01:54:13):
Yeah, incredible, incredible numbers that he is pulling out. Yeah,
I want to move to college football. The Heisman Trophy,
Now this is for the top player in college football,
isn't it? Has this been handed out?

Speaker 9 (01:54:25):
Yeah?

Speaker 15 (01:54:26):
So this is considered one of the most prestigious individual
awards in all American sports. Are Two weeks ago the
annual Heisman Trophy ceremony took place. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza
etched his name into college football history by winning the
prestigious award force performance in the twenty twenty five season. Mendoza,
in this first season of Bloomington Leather Hoosia's historically known

(01:54:47):
for their strong basketball program, to an undefeated thirteen to
oer record and the program's first Big ten puddle since
nineteen forty five. He'd be three other finalists who made
the trip to New York City and was very humble
during his acceptance speech. It was well deserved.

Speaker 2 (01:55:02):
Yeah, good stuff. Now that would be wouldn't be playoffs
without about controversy anything to tell us here?

Speaker 9 (01:55:09):
Yes, So when the.

Speaker 15 (01:55:10):
Regular season first for college football, there was a lot
of talk about which teams did and did not make
the playoffs. So this seems to be the biggest sticking
point with college football right now, and most analysts are
saying that the only way to avoid this missy situation
in the future is to expand a number of teams
from twelve to sixteen, if not more so, most schools
would prefer this option and would be collectively rubbing their

(01:55:32):
hands together with glee for one reason alone, the power
of your mighty dollar. The bottom line, poney, is that
money is that money speaks in sports much louder than
anything else. And not see it there.

Speaker 2 (01:55:43):
I think I think Gil might be right. So the
way the college football playoff bracket works, from what I
can see here, and you'll correct me, the top four
goes straight through to the quarter finals. There are there's
the first round, but we're at the quarterfinal stage now,
aren't we.

Speaker 15 (01:55:56):
Yeh So at the post so you hear a lot
about they have these so called bowl games with those
are just pretty much money grabbing things for schools you
don't make the playoffs. They're starting this Friday, the defending
champion Ohio State playing Miami. Then on Saturday, Georgia versus
Old Miss Indiana versus Alabama and Friday, Texas Tech versus Oregon.

(01:56:16):
So yeah, you were saying the luxury is that those
teams that qualified the highest, they get a rest or
buy it. And so the semis Are Spain is later
on for January ten and eleven, while the National Championship
game is actually on January twenty first, pinety in Florida.

Speaker 7 (01:56:30):
Yeah, gotta got a winner.

Speaker 2 (01:56:31):
Firstly, on got a winner. Who would Ohio state back
to that?

Speaker 15 (01:56:35):
But you know I'm going to sit on the fence
with this. Yeah, yeah, I know. I don't normally say that,
but this is a tough one the pick because I
think most people we are expecting probably Georgia, a higher state,
but when our higher state lost their their final two Indiana,
I think it's sort of thrown a bit of a
spin in the works there. So I think I'll stay
YouTube on this on Pony.

Speaker 2 (01:56:55):
I don't mind it. I don't mind it. It's a
very sensible, sensible approach. Let's go to the NFL. Been
a bit of a head coaching carousel in the NFL.

Speaker 15 (01:57:05):
Yes, there's a lot of rumors going on. As per
ESPN's Adam Schefter, he's a ciar NFL Insider for the network.
He's projected there will be anywhere between seven and nine
openings as the regular season comes to close. There At
this time, there are already two vacancies, and Monday, January
five will be the day of reckoning, commonly referred to
as Black Monday. Now, this term originated in the late

(01:57:26):
nineteen nineties and has since become synonymous with the first
Monday following the competion of the regular season, with many coaches,
assistance as well, and even some front office staff are
let go due to a team's poor performance. Now, remember,
there are only thirty two head coaching positions in the NFL,
and teams are hot. Yeah, to become a coach that's
highly sought after in terms of financial remuneration and prestige.

(01:57:49):
The good luck if you can get it, Pliny.

Speaker 2 (01:57:51):
Absolutely so. Tell us who's leading the AFC and the
NFC with what only a couple of games to go?

Speaker 7 (01:57:58):
Yeah?

Speaker 15 (01:57:58):
So, in terms of current conference standings, the AFC has
a Denver Broncos as the number one seed with the
best overall record in the league, followed by the New
England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers, LA Chargers and the
Buffalo Bills. The Steelers are the only team not to
have conched a playoff birth yet so Over in the NFC,
the Piattle Seahawks are seated at number one, followed by

(01:58:20):
the Chicago Bears, the defending champ in Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers,
San Francisco forty nine Ers, LA Rams, and the Green
Bay Packers. So the Panthers there are the only team
yet the clincher playoff spot as well.

Speaker 2 (01:58:34):
Have you got the latest starts for us on MVP
in the NFL yep.

Speaker 15 (01:58:38):
So like the NBA, the pretty nice for MVP in
the Super Bowl win. I'm very open more southern in
recent years, so the Rams. The LA Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
He remains the firm favorite and most beating circles, despite
the Patriots Drake May and reigning MVP Josh Allen for
the Bills closing the gap. Now, the latest NFL Powell
rankings point to the LA Rams, followed by the Seattle Seahawks,

(01:59:02):
the Buffalo Bulls, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Broncos, the Denver Broncos,
and the New England Patriots rounding out the top six.
So as always, the biggest determining fact it will again
be which team stays healthy and has the deeper roster
when injuries doing evidabody happened fining.

Speaker 2 (01:59:19):
So only a couple of our rounds to go. I
think Round seventeen got under why yesterday with three games
if you want to come and then Round eighteen any
games and particularly you've got your eyes.

Speaker 15 (01:59:27):
On yes, Let's take a look at some of the
marquee matchups over the final two rounds. The only games
are really matter with the playoffs, Bloomy, Let's look at
the AFC that the clash tomorrow with the Chargers hosting
the Texans. That should be a really good game. I
think the Texans have won like five or six games
in the race and they're on a real role. Bobby Dangerous.
On Monday, three pivotal games of the Panthers hosting the Seahawks,

(01:59:49):
the Bills hosting the Eagles, and the Beans away to
the forty nine Ers. Now the following and final week
of the regular season, he's a Broncos hosting the Chargers
and the Seahawks on the road at the forty nine Ers.
I'm a bit handed, and again to pick an eventual
Super Bowl when a point at the status these last
couple of weeks will give us a c put on
which tube will have the bit of path the Super
Bowl sixty Net Beanstead, Poney, I'm Timmy clean more towards

(02:00:13):
La Rams from the NFC and the Houston Dixons from
the AFC to Lockhorns in San Francisco for the Vince
long Body Tract to appropriate again. Thanks for having me
on again today, Piney the opportunity through up to see
this year, my thoughts on stateside, have a say, a
few years with the family and all the bits to
you and your listeners in twenty twenty six. Mates.

Speaker 2 (02:00:31):
Oh you're a good man, Leon. Thanks so much for
joining us.

Speaker 10 (02:00:33):
Mate.

Speaker 2 (02:00:33):
We've loved your contributions across the year and we'll pick
it up again early in twenty twenty six. I can
tell you as well as you know, my son Johnny
is a big NFL fan, and I asked him yesterday
I heard about Chet who he was picking for the
Super Bowl and he said the La Rams as well.
So sounds as though you and he are on the
same wave length. Good on you, mate, Leon Busby, state
Side our American sports expert eight away from three News

(02:00:54):
Talks itb.

Speaker 4 (02:00:55):
When it's down to the line. You made a call
on eight hundred eighty.

Speaker 1 (02:00:59):
Ten eighty Weekend Sports with Jason Hine News Talks EB.

Speaker 2 (02:01:03):
Coming up four and a half to three. That is
us on weekends. I bought four today. Just a reminder,
tomorrow's show, the final show on Weekend Sport anyway for
twenty twenty five is our traditional year in reviews. So
between midday and three tomorrow, some of our favorite interviews
from the year, some of the most controversial moments, some
of the biggest stars and h well we'll try and

(02:01:25):
wrap it all in three hours tomorrow between midday and
three our year in Review show after three summer weekends
with Max Toll. Huge thanks to Tyra for producing today.
Thanks very much indeed, Tyra, and I'll see you tomorrow
taking us out today. Well, the Darts is on again
from tonight and as you know, they all have their
walkout songs and voted beast walkout song and a poll

(02:01:47):
I saw recently was that of Stephen Bunting and it's titanium.
David Guetta certainly gets the crowd going at Ali Palley.
That's for sure that's taken us out today, see you
tomorrow for the year in review. On Weekend Sport, have
an excellent Settle afternoon by now.

Speaker 1 (02:02:26):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news Talks at B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.

All Episodes

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

Dateline NBC

Stuff You Should Know

The Bobby Bones Show

.css-15opob5{left:0;position:absolute;top:0.8rem;} All Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Full Show Podcast: 27 December 2025

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Dateline NBC

Stuff You Should Know

The Bobby Bones Show

All Episodes

Full Show Podcast: 27 December 2025

Dateline NBC